THE TOOK MAN’S FRIEND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5419, 9 August 1878, Page 2

THE TOOK MAN’S FRIEND.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sm, —I am a working man, and X wish t j complain of the way in which I have been ' sucked in by Sir George Grey. You will recollect that at the great meeting which he held in the Arcade about six months or so back he promised, or at least led us to believe, that inasmuch as the capitalist had had the advantage of us in the matter of taxation in the past, he would see that in future tho capitalist should bear his fair share. I had always before that been a supporter of Mr. Pearce; but after that, knowing that Mr. Pearce was against Sir George Grey’s policy, we (that is, I and my mates) went lemons for his candidates, thinking that if he kept iu the Government we would be relieved from all taxes, Wc all like our beer, and here Sir George has raised the jirice upon us ; we like our tobacco, our whisky and rum, though a few prefer brandy; but we fully expected lie would have taken the duties off these articles, which furnish more than two-thirds of the revenue, and of which we working men xjay nine-tenths. He proposed to do everything for us, and here is the result: we have to pay 6d. as before for our nobblers, and our glass of beer will be 3Ad. If Sir George is the friend to us he pretends to be, why does he not take off the duties off everything, and put on an income and property tax, which would let ns poor working men off, and put the revenue upon the shoulders of the capitalists aud landowners, who are really the proper parties upon whom it ought to fall. Sis proposed alterations only make us pay a larger proportion of taxation than we did before. Sir, do bring this before the Governor, aud do not let him be imposed upon by such legislation, which, pretending to be in our favor, is altogether against us. —I am, &c;, A Woukikg- Man.