EARTH'S PROBLEM.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8392, 9 April 1907, Page 6

EARTH'S PROBLEM.

(To the

Sir,—l notice a number of letters to your paper, from "Gracchus," dealing with that question of questions for humanity, the land issue. It is certain that upon a correct solution of this vital question depends the future welfare of the people of New Zealand and the world. The remedy that "Gracchus" urges, the taxation of site values, is, in my opinion, the only rational one. All other measures short'of this will prove abortive. Mr McNab's Land Bill is not worth the paper it is printed upon as a remedy. It is a piece of politicaljqaackery, and if the predictions of our Pickwickian Attorney-General prove correct, the author of the Bill will find it difficult, to his offspring when it emerges from the committee stages. The history of our land legislation, and the administer tion of it by a so-called Liberal Government, is anomalous to'say the least. Thirty years ago Sir George Grey urged the people to tax land values sixpence in the pound. Mr Ballance took the initiative with a penny in the pound, and there this tax, which its progenitors doubtless intended to be | progressive, has remained ever since. During the whole period of his term of office Mr Seddon never increased the ordinary land tax. The trouble in obtaining any increase of the land tax is due to the constitution of the so-called Liberals, who out-Herod Mr Massey and his party in their Conservatism. Mr Seddon stated, upon the floor of the House, that the last Parliament was the most Conservative body that he had ever seen there, and that the people were not getting progressive measures. For that person "Gracchus" will observe that the present House is no improvement on the last one, and he must, also, see that there is no difference between the Conservative Short and the Liberal Codlin. A substantial increase of the ordinary land tax, and the abolition of the exemptions is urgently needed. This coupled with sweeping reductions of indirect taxation, would be a great boon to the colony, and especially to the landless toilers, but I think it futile to [expect these blessings until our representation is considerably improved. All reformers desiring economic justice in the relations between men should battle for some modification of the Hare system of preferential voting to shift some of the dead wood in Parliament. Now, in conclusion, as to the appeal of "Gracchus" to Mr Hornsby for the cause that deserves assistance. I think he is wasting his time and ink. Mr Hogg may be a progressive on this question; ,but Mr Hornsby certainly i 3 not, and it is idie to expect aid from a man who subscribes to a scheme of high protective tariffs that would tax the shirts off the workers' backs.—l am, etc., F. W. BURKE. Cerberus, April Bth, 1907.