THE GLADSTONE ELECTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1633, 13 September 1887, Page 2

THE GLADSTONE ELECTION.

TO THE BDITOE. Sie,—-T am rather surprised to find that Mr Rhodes, at his Winchester meeting, stated that an “answer” had been sent to my letter, and that you had refused it insertion. I presume he referred to the precious production advertised in the Timaru Herald with the signature “ Cold Tea.” This production clearly shows to any intelligent man that neither Mr Rhodes nor his Committee could answer my letter but merely string together a series of wilful misrepresentations and sorry attempts at ridicule. Their own opinion of their “ answer ” was clearly shown by the fact that neither of them had the pluck to sign it, and I feel sure that the name of the writer, whoever he may be, will bring more credit than his composition. Mr Rhodes also informed, his audience that a Property Tax of Id in the pound is the same as an Income Tax of Is 8d in the pound. Now, with all due deference to Mr Rhodes, I say this is rank nonsense, but of course it was intended to make the Q-overnment proposal look as bad as possible. It would be the same if a man’s property only yielded five per cent., but how many of our absentee companies would be so easily satisfied ? If property yield eight per cent, a Property Tax of Id in the pound is equal to an Income Tax of 12Jd in the pound, if it yield ten per cent, it is equal to lOd in the pound, and if fifteen, as shareholders in the Bank of NZ. arc getting, it i« only rqual to 8d in the pound. This is a matter of importance, and Mr Rhodes should either try to give a correct idea of it er ” tarry at Jericho until his beard is grown.”—l am, etc., Thob. Let.