THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1891. TAXATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2225, 9 July 1891, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1891. TAXATION.

There is nothing more amusing than a study of the speeches which Tory members are making now in criticising the changes in the incidence of taxation, Mr Wilson, a North Island member says it will make the price of money dearer to the farmer than at present. Another says that the money-lenders will escape taxation, and Mr Rhodes finds that under the change he wtll pay 7s 9d less than before. What we want to know is : If the mdney-lenders will have less taxation to pay, how will money be made dearer to those who borrow it? No one need bother with this. Money, like other articles, will be dear or cheap; just as it is scarce or plentiful. Then Mr Wilson says that whereas a tradesman who makes £4OO a year will have to pay £5 5s a year income tax, a farmer who makes £4OO a year will have to pay £2O. In that case he had to pay £4O under the Property Tax, because under the new tax the farmer will be relieved of the tax on improvements, and also on his sheep, cattle, &c. That means that the farmer will be relieved of half the taxation he hitherto paid. Then Mr Valentine, Manager for an English Land Company, and a member of the House, says it is the present Government drove all the people out of the country. He has not tried to prove it, and we do not suppose that any one else will. This is the sort of nonsense which has been heard for the past three weeks in Parliament. Then Mr Rhodes jumped on the Government because no encouragement had been given to village settlements in his own locality. It is a wonder indeed that in three months the Government have not settled the whole country. Does Mr Rhodes think he will delude the people by such nonsense as this ? Does he remember that it is not so long ago since he voted against £IO,OOO being spent on village settlements ? It is really annoying to see the time wasted with frivolities like these, interspersed with personalities of the grossest kind.

REFORM. When Mr Gladstone first took the leadership of the Liberal party in England and became Prime Minister a great reform tide set id. A similar tide has apparently set in now in New and unless we make a great mistake changes will be effected. One of the boldest attempts at reformation is a measure which is to be introduced to prevent the estates of deceased persons to be wasted in law. This measure will enact, if passed, that in cases where there is a dispute over a will, the administration of which is in the hands of the Public Trustee, the matter will be submitted to a judge of the Supreme Court, who will enquire into the case and give his decision, but no lawyers will be permitted to appear, and no expenses will be incurred. This, of course, in itself is a small matter, but it is the thin end of the wedge that will eventually split open the fabric of law, and substitute justice in its stead. Another measure is the Criminal Codes Bill the object of which is to simplify criminal law and make it more comprehensive. Another is their land measures which provide for hona fide settlement, and makes dummyism punishable by imprisonment. These, together with changes in the incidences of taxation, and the reduction of postage make a fair amount of reform for a Ministry who are only four months in office.