IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 135, 29 November 1911, Page 4

IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENTS.

One of the most important achievements of the Government is the alteration of the whole incidence of taxation. In place of the harsh and inequitable System that put a burden on industry and handicapped enterprise, the necessary taxation is mow distributed equitably arid with a due regard to the placing of the burden on'the shoulders ■ best able to bear it. The " Reformers blame the Government for its financial operations, but it nrast be conceded that the financial operations of the Government have greatly increased" the earning power of the individual. Those who so strenuously object to ilys part of the policy have, of course,' benefited equally with the people who have been foMs for 20 years. If we are on the verge of ruin, it da .ruin that iy«<u]d appear to be a very pleasant cbqdi{iqi.' The- "Reformera" want to govern this country, and the "Reformers" (Jo not want to borrow. It would be interesting to observe the attitude of .the people towards a Government that; suddenly decided to close down on all ,tlie works that are the machinery of our.prosperity and which | must necessarily Be financed. If the pace of publie works is to be governed by the earnings of the consolidated funds, those immigrants should be cabled to stay at Honje,.-anil, the backblocker should give up all idea of roads, bridges and Land for ficWement? Bosh! Give us; "reform." Money for fanners ? Good gracious, what nonsense! Cash for local hp<J:ie/!? Absurd! "Reform" is the panacea for all our troubles. Workers homes, 3114 advances to workers? Pooh!. Workers only want reform Mid to hear Mr.. .James Allen harangue the country on the ;bi|jlding up'of a great country on financial, criticisms and speeohes. To .open . up. tho country we want money, ,to aid settlement we must have cash, to,increase the prdduction of one of the finest countries on earth we must approach. John Bull for some little time yet witJIf.QUF. lpagnjficent security! Perhaps our friends desire to borrow less ami tOiiijcrcase- taxation, or do not remember that we ourselves provided £BOO,OOO last year for development. Jt caranot too often be set down or said that about- 70.par epnt. of our total indebtedness' pays' its own interest, that much of the' remainder is indirectly reproductive, of that 'we are less heavily taxed and infinitely' better off than we were twenty years ago. The Premier again mentioni?d-tbese. facts, and, among ■other 'things,-'be showed what was being done to break lip the land monopolies. The graduated tax lias, done good work in this direction; but it is not to be expected l that the. opponents of the Government' will 'acknowledge it. There is unfortunately,' however, a noticoa'ble lassitude in the ivork of settlement. The future of tilie'country depends not on the occupation 'of the land; but upon its occupation by the largest possible number of small holders. To say that say 100.000 a'cres is "settled" in a given period is of no. utility. To show that it is adequately cut up and supporting as many families as possible without overloading it, is of serviice. Sir Joseph Ward mentioned the new provision for "speeding up" tlie resumption of estates. The provision exists, but it depends upon the vigor and earnestness of administration whether the land hunger is to be soon assauged. If the matter is properly "jffeyied—if it takes precedence of every other business, as it sliouJd—the man who wants land and can work it should not be kept waiting long. The improved land settlement financial scheme, hand in hand with a vigorous resumption policy, will, it is hoped, completely appease the land hunger, The Premier is pardonably proud of Xew Zealand's humanitarian laws, perhaps most advanced in the world because the social problems are not so great as elsewhere owing to the small population.