The New Zealand Times PUBLISHED DAILY). SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1879.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5747, 30 August 1879, Page 2

The New Zealand Times PUBLISHED DAILY). SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1879.

We notice that if there is any one point about which all the Parliamentary candidates are more unanimous than another it is the imposition of an income and property tax. Candidate after candidate enunciates the same view on the subject, and the few supporters of the Grey Ministry declare that it is quite a cardinal point in the great Liberal policy. A more impudent assertion was never made. Towards the close of the session of 1877 Mr. Woolcook; brought forward a resolution proposing that the basis of taxation should be altered, and that a general income and property tax should be imposed. This was readily agreed to and passed by the House, and it was commonly supposed that the Grey Ministry would comply with this declared wish of the Legislature. But instead of doing, so, they brought forward a measure which taxed one description of property only, viz., the land. The fiasco which that pet measure, the Land -Tax Act, has proved, is so well known as not to call for any remark from us. It would appear, therefore, that the Grey party, who now claim to be the authors and patrons of this measure, for the imposition of a property and income tax, have but tardily taken up a duty which was entrusted to them two years ago. They ignored the expressed wish of the House when they were strong, and wish now when weak to claim the idea as their own, and to make political capital out of it. This fact has often been alluded to ere now, but it appears to have slipped into the background of late. In point of fact the Income and Property jTax Bill ought to have been on the Statute-book long ago, and it was simply owing to Sir G. Grey’s burning desire to burst up big estates that it is not so. The Triennial Parliaments Bill, the Electoral Bill, and the Redistribution of Seats Bill were one and all either neglected or strangled when brought forward, while the Grey Ministry commanded a large majority ;'but the Income and Property Tax Bill which they were bound in honor to bring forward was deliberately kept back, and was never allowed to see the light. It has been dug up from the oubliette where it was buried, and its name is now high upon the list of the promised reforms emblazoned on the banner of the great Liberal Greyite party, who deliberately suppressed it eighteen months ago.