THEN AND NOW.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10188, 14 March 1911, Page 4

THEN AND NOW.

It is not regarded as good manners to ispeak of a man behind his back. Consequently one feels some diffidence in reproaching Sir Joseph Ward in his absence. As, however, he has left a locum tenems, with a full power of attorney, one may be permitted to criticise him * through his agent. Sir Joseph has just succeeded in creating the biggest surplus this overtaxed country has ye* produced. He seems proud of the fact that he.has wrung from, the people more taxation than he expect-' ed. And not a single word has, he said about relieving the people of some of their burden. Compare the Sir Joseph Ward of to-day with the Sir Joseph of. 1893, and wliat do we. find? In that yearj as Colonial Treasurer, he said "in his financial statement:—-"There is a great deal to be said against the raising 'of more revenue by taxation than,4s ordinarily required to carry on', the" services of the country, and I-am-free to confess that, it is not desirable to draw more from the pockets of the taxpayers than they are at present contributing. On the contrary the policy of the Government, as I have already indicatedj shows that we believe that relief should be afforded to the taxpayers." At that time the taxation per head, that was thus declared to be quite high enough, wat. £3lls 2d. It has increased 1 to over £5 since then, and the once professing opponent of high taxation is now striving to extract: still. more from the pockets of the ratepayers.