The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1888. TAXATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1747, 7 June 1888, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1888. TAXATION.

That highly-virtuous and .generoushearted body of gentlemen known as the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, otherwise called " The Political Eeform Association," have met and made their suggestions to the Government with regard to the proposed tariff. It will be remembered that during the election these gentlemen and the candidates they supported, literally speaking, shed salt tears over the hardships which would be inflicted on working men in the event of any increase in the tariff. They have altered since then. Their party succeeded in getting into power and making a mess of it, if ever a mess was made, and now they have no objection to increase the Customs duties so long as no encouragement is given to local industries! How any people can be so mad as to endeavor to suppress the development of our industries is incomprehensible. They ought to be looked upon as traitors to the colony and treated as such.

The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has met and forwarded their recommendation to the Government. They urge—lst, to raise the school age to six years, so as to effect further retrench meet; 2nd, to effect further retrenchment in the various departments, especially railways; 3rd, to reduce the exemption under. the*Property Tax from £SOO to £250; 4th, they have not the slightest objection to the increase in the tax on tea, salt, spirits, cigars, and so on, and the only tai they object to is that which protects local industries. " Tax the people as much as you like but do not promote local industry " is the sum and substance of all they say. It is, however, satisfactory to known that this miserably selfish party is no longer politically powerful, and that the present Parliament, notwithstanding its many drawbacks, has a majority sufficiently patriotic and sufficiently intelligent to make an effort to stanch the wounds through which the colony's life-blood is gushing. The division on Mr Ormond's motion shows quite plainly that Parliament has .determine 1 : first, on the tri>economy of paying its debts out of taxation instead of adopting the ruinous system of borrowing to pay debts ; and, Becond,on giving a moderute pro tection to local industries so as to develop our own reaources. The tariff is by no means what we should lilw to see ,

adopted. We can honestly say with { the poet — , " It, might havfl been better, it might have been worse; I wish from my heart ifc was better or worso." If it were worse, that is less protective, it would result in the developement of a most determined public opinion in favor of Protection in thiß colony, and by next election Protectionists would be able to carry all before them. In the fact that for years we shall have to do with the present tariff, there is a disadvantage in accepting it, but it is possible the time which will be gained will compensate for this. We do not like to see an increase of 33-j- per cent, put on tea, an increase of 40 per cent, on salt, and an increase of 25 per cent, on cotton goods, which the poor must buy, while the silk of the rich is only increased 5 per cent. We do not like to see those things, but for the little additional protection of 6 per cent, given to our industries we are willing to bear this iniquitous and scandalously unfa r readjustment of taxation for the present. We have to choose between two evils, and this is the least of them.