THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1893. OVER HALF A MILLION SURPLUS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2507, 25 May 1893, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1893. OVER HALF A MILLION SURPLUS.

We have now the precise figures concerning the financial results of the year, and instead of “ galloping to a deficit ” we find ourselves trotting in comtortably with a surplus of £511,288. That is a hard nut for the Oppositiou to crack; they may explain it away as well as they can, but the grand result remains, and everyone must give credit to the Government for it. If the Opposition predictions had proved accurate, and a deficit had been the result of the year’s financial operations, they would loudly denounce the Government, and exclaim, “ We told you so.” Would it not be fair now to give the Government credit for the grand result produced? Only a few days ago the Timaru Herald abused Mr Mackay, of Raincliff, for giving the late Premier credit for being instrumental in putting the finances of the colony in such a flourishing condition. If there had been a deficit instead of a surplus the Heraid would have abused the Government, If it would be fair to abuse them for having a deficit, would it not be fair to praise them for having a surplus ? With regard to the surplus, one thing connected with it ought to make farmers think. When the Land Tax was put on, and it was shown that the taxation of farmers would be greatly reduced, the Conservatives said: “ Wait awhile; sufficient revenue will not be obtained from the Laud Tax, and the end of it will be that the tax on the small farmers will be increased to make it up.” Now the small farmers can see that this was intended to frighten them; they can see that there will not be the slightest necessity for increasing their taxation, and that they need not be afraid of any such thing. If anything, farmers may look forward to having less taxation to pay in the future than in the past, for the following reasons: —lst —The present Government is determined that there shall be no more borrowing; 2nd—As there will be no more borrowing, the expenses of the Government will not increase; 3rd —The lainl is being quickly settled—its resources are being developed, the country is getting richer, and the population is increasing; 4th—As the population increases, and the country gets richer, the amount of taxation per head will get less. For instance, supposing that at the present time 20,000 taxpayers have to make up £20,000, it means £1 each to them, but if the 20,000 men should become 40,000 men it would mean only 10s each to them. In this way, as as the population increases and the country gets richer, the taxation per head will get less and less every year, provided we insist on Government refraining from borrowing. There is not the slightest necessity for borrowing so long as there is a surplus of half a million a year, so that what the electors have to do now is to insist on the present policy being continued. Every elector ought to work as if the whole question depended on his own vote, and make an effort to allow no one to go into Parliament but supporters of the present Government. There is no class that has a greater interest in this than the small farmer. Their taxation has been greatly reduced, and they can now see plainly that there is a good prospect of it being reduced still further. In about three months they will be called upon te say “yea” or “nay” to this! policy. What will they say ? If the Opposition get into power they will take off the graduated tax on large estates, and make the small farmers pay it. This is just the chief difference between the two parties. The Liberals have taken a sharp of the taxation off smMl farmers; the Conservatives want to put the tax back again on the small farmers, and take it off the large ones. If the small farmers want more taxation let them vote for the Tories.