The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1890. LAND AND INCOME TAX.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2046, 15 May 1890, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1890. LAND AND INCOME TAX.

Ijf his speecb at Leeaton recently, Sir John Hall is reported to have said :

" Many favored a land and income tax, by which they meant the taxing, in the first place, of a man's income, however derived, and, in the next, the taxing of the land ; or, in other words, the taxing of the land twice over. It was most unfair that, while personal proDerty should be only liable to one tax, both the land and the income derived from the land should be taxed."

Now, we do not believe that there is another man in Parliament who understands this matter in the same way as Sir John Hall. No one ever proposed that anyone should be double taxed as Sir John Hall represents, and we feel sure that no one will. Even Henry Greorge's proposal does not double tax anyone. The proposal of those who advocate a land and income tax is that a man should be taxed for the land he holds, and that he should pay an income tax on any income lie may have independent of the land. Eor instance, let us suppose that a lawyer owned 1000 acres of land, and that he was in receipt of £IOOO a year from the practice of his profession, he would have to pay a, land tax on the 1000 acres and an income tax on the £IOOO. But in the case of a farmer who owned 1000 acres, and had no income from any other source, he would only have to pay the land tax. This has been explained time out of number, and we venture to think that there are few inside or outside the House who do not thoroughly understand it—yet Sir John Hall does not blush to tell the country that the farmer would have to pay a double tax. Now the question is : Is Sir John Hall, after , being in Parliament for about 35 years, so ignorant that he does not

understand it? Is such a thing probable? Will anyone believe it? We, at any rate, do not. Sir John

J Hall, who has been Premier, and who is one of the shrewdest of men—a man who is most careful wherever his interest is concerned—could not possibly be laboring under such a delusion. Then the only conclnsion we can eome to is that he deliberately misrepresented the truth in order to throw dust into the eyes of the electors, But this is not the first time we had occasion to expose lies. In fact, it is on misrepresentation the Conservatives manage to retain power and the wonder is that the people cannot see it. Surely a man like

Sir John Hall who deliberately misI represents facts in this way ought not to be entrusted with the making of our laws j and yet he is, and will as long as he likes. As regards the question of a land and income tax, our opinion on the subject is well known. There are no settled incomes in this colony, and very little could bs derived from that source. The day is past for a land and income tax ; we could not get sufficient revenue from them, and we must stick to the property tax, however disagreeable it may be. "We did not look after these things in time ; we have believed the lies told us in the past as we do at present and voted for the property tax people, and now we must pay it whether we like iter not. Mr Ballance proposes t© exempt farm improvements and machinery to the extent of £2500 from taxation, and if that were done with some further modifications, the property tax would be as fair an impost as we could devise. J

LABOR ORGANISATIONS. Nothing could possibly make the power of the present labor organisations clearer than the news which we recently received from Brisbane. There, it appears, sheep-owners had combined together to' break the power of the Shearers' Uaions by employing Hon-TJnion shearers. By this means tbey thought they would bring the Union sheareTs to their knees, but they reckoned without their host. The wharf-laborers took the matter in hand, and resolved not to load Bhips which took on board wool shorn by non-Union shearers. Thus the wool-growers were met at the next step they took, but even if they had succeeded in bridging over that difficulty another awaited them. If by any accident a ship happened to load with the objectionable wool she would be met at Home by the London dockers, and there no one would be found to unload her. In consequence of this the Shipping Companies have refused to take the wool, as they know to do so would lead to endless trouble. But the organisations did more than this: they sent 500 men on horseback to watch the borders so that wool could not pass from one colony into another and thus escape, and that no underhand work could be going on without their knowledge. All this shows how extraordinary are the resources, and how immense the power of the labor organisations of the world, and when we come to remember that this new awakening in the ranks of labor is only a few months old the whole thing becomes really amazing. Twelve months ago the friends of labor were disgusted at the apathy of the laborer, and his stupid indifference to his own interests. To-day these friends stand almost aghast at his abnormal activity lest the knowledge of his great power may lead to a social upheaval, for which the world is unprepared. Aa to the future no one | can predict what may happen. If the capitalists are guided by wisdom, and concede to the labourers the demand they are making to reduce the hours of labor and increrse the pay, the probabilities are that everything will settle down and that we shall hear no more about the matter for many years to come. But if, on the contrary, the capitalists still persist in having their own way, and ignore this growing power, consequences little dreamt of must follow. The Socialistic element with which the labor organisations are leavened will not allow them to sleep. The only way in which the flowing tide can be stemmed is by meeting the demands of the labarers half way, but in all probability this is exactly what will not be done. Capital is arrogant, it has won the battle all along th© line so far, and it no doubt thinks it will be i equally successful in the future, In this the greatest danger lies, for unless something is done to satisfy the demands of labor the result will prove disastrously to trade and commerce before long.

LOCAL OPTION.

The Ashbtteton Gu audi an gives a full explanation of the promise made by the Premier to Mr Pulton to the effect that it is the intention of the Government to submit a Bill for giving to the ratepayers direct control over : the question of granting hotel licenses. This is the result of a motion submitted to the House by Mr Withy, of Auckland, last session, and carried by a majority of 10 votes. The motion, after haying recounted the evils of intemperance, affirmed that the Government should without delay introduce " a Bill giving power to the people, by direct vote at the ballot-box periodically taken, to prohibit the sale of such liquors within the district in which they reside." The motion was darned by 37 t 0 27 votes, the division hat being as follows : "For the resolution Messrs Anderson, Barron, Brown, Bruce, Buchanan, Buxton, Cowan, Eraser, Fulton, Goldie, Grey, Guinness, H*ralin, Harkness, Fl.sopHobbs, Joyc,, Lawry, Mac-k-nze T.,-Mills, Moat, Monk, O'Conor, Reeves R H. J., Richardson E. Richardson G. F., Rose, Senders, Seddon, Steward, Taipua Taiwhang<rhompson R, Thompson T., VerraH, Wilhy, and Whyte. Agmnst the resolution Messrs Allan, Billance Blake, Oirroll, Dodson. Duncan, Je'gns, Fitcbett, Fitzherbert, 'Graham, Hodgkinson, Humphreys, Jaokson, Jones, Lance, Lamach, Loughrey, McGregor McKe DZ ie J., p ar ata, Pyke Tw \, Se ?, mour > Turnbull, V dentine, and Walker." , '

It is remarkable that Mr Khodea was neither for nor against it, Last election ho said publicly he would oppose the proposal, unless compensation was given; then he went privately and promised thjse who were interested !.? ° ption tha * he would support them. Like a sensible man he has supported neither, but went to bed calmly and quietly for himself. This is the way to win the confidence of electors; promise everything, and do only that which suits.