The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 352, 31 December 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1879.

Mr Hail, speaking upon the Property Assessment Bill, is reported to haw given utterance to the following : " We believe that all taxes should be paid, as stated, I think, by the honorable member for the Thames, by people in proportion to the benefits they derive from the Government of the country. Now, what are those bene fits? The Government exists for the protection of persons and property. individuals, as individuals, should make contribution for the same reason, That is the principle which is contained in our proposal: that all property, of whatever kind, which is protected by the Government should pay for that protection." If this plain statement expresses the combined wisdom of the Hall Cabinet, then the country has cause td complain, for better things and a better knowledge of political economy were expected of them. Well may Lord Derby, when referring to Colonial Legislatures, have said, "We have given them power to tax themselves, and ne have given them power to make mistakes." The mistake before us is, however, a very serious one, and we are surprised to find so sensible a man as the.Premier giving utterance to it. It is this: that taxation in its incidence should never consider benefits derived by the individual from the Government, but solely ability to pay, If the colonists of New Zealand were taxed in accordance with the "benefits they derive, 1 ' property would have to be left entirely out of the question, and the great body of the working classes would have to pay for the superior benefits they receive here to those they enjoyed in England. Our German and Scandinavian fellowcolonists would have to pay highly for escaping oppressive military laws, Generally, the benefits of individuals, as individuals, would have to be inquired into before property could be considered, The fundamental laws that should guide Lhe imposition of taxation may be stated as follows:—.1. That the subjects of any State, ought to contribute towards the support of its government as nearly as possible according to their respective abilities. 2. A tax should be certain and not arbitrary, and the payment clear, 3. Every tax ought to be levied at the time and in the manner most likely to be convenient for the. contributor to pay, 4, Every tax ought to lie so contrived as to take out and keep out of the pocket of the people as little as possible over and above that which it brings in to the public Treasury. 5. A tax 1 should not be of such a nature as will afford the intended contributor either the opportunity of evading it. These are the laws that have hitherto guided statesmen in hngland. Is it advisable for the Colonial Legislature to amend them? Sir George Grey, Mr Ballance, and now Mr Hall, carried away by John Stuart Mill's scheme of the unearned increment, were or are desirous of taxing lands rendered more valuable by the Public Works Policy j but Mill's scheme has been found to be utterly fallacious. The present agricultural distress in England and depreciation of rents proves how little dependence can be placed upon the price of land for taxation purposes, Who is to say that the present price of New Zealand land is not fictitious? Its value depends solely on what can be got off it. Its price may be treble that sum. The value .or rent calculation can alone be taxed, and that is the very essence of" ability to pay." MiHall is, however, in error when quoting Sir George Grey as his sole authority. Sir George Grey certainly did make use of the words, but if the Premier refers to the speech delivered by the Marquis of ivormanby when opening the final sitting of the last session of Parliament, lie will find that taxation was to be imposed solely in accordance with ability to pay. This is as it should be, as it would be sipiply impossible to define, for purposes of; taxation, what individual or what section of land derived the most benefit from the Government, Under such a system it would hardly be paradoxical to assert that the Taranaki settlers might claim a subsidy for "injuries received,"

A grand soiree is to bo held.iu Featherston this evening.

Messrs 0. Page and .1 Hoskins, bootmakers, Carterton, have dissolved partnership,

A meeting of all the Oatlvlic people in Mastertqn and the surrounding districts will be held on Sunday next at 11 a.m., in St. Patrick's Church. 1

The next meeting of Comb Loyal En-; terpriso will be a summoned one to receive the report and balance-sheet of Sports Committee.

We remind the public of Mr. J.. M. Girdlestono's sale at 2..p.m., to-day in Church-street, and also of F. H. Wood & Co.'s sale at Featherston of cattle, sheep, &c,

The manager of the Permanent Loan, and Investment Association of the Wairarapa notifies that he will attend at Masterton on Friday, Jan. 2nd instead of Thursday, his usual day.

St. Matthew's Church Sunday School held their annual picnic in Mr J. Drumuiond'a paddock yesterday afternoon, Everything possible was done to make the treat a success and agreeable to the children, and we learn that the affair passed off well, The annual picnic in connection with the G re} town School will be held in Mr O'Connor's paddock, Kuratawhiti road, on Thursday. The School Committee invite all scholars, friends, and friends' friends, and will no doubt, if the weather keeps fine, have a large gathering.

A meeting of the Masterton Library Committee was held on Monday last, but we have not as yet been successful in obtaining particulars of the business transacted. We understand it is the intention of the members of the Greytown Working Men's Club to have a social gathering at the Club on New Year's Eve, and that a small programme of songs, &c,, has been prepared, beside which the usual recreation will be found. We expect to hear of a good muster of members. The following is the final selection of members of tho Greytown Club to meet ihe Bohemians on New Year's Day:—W, 0. Cuff, W. G. Beard, W. S. Gregg, W. J. Salmon, I. J. Salmon, T. S. Ronaldson, A. M. Hirschberg, F. O'Connor, W, Day, G. Palmer, J. Hawke; Emergency man: C. Beard. We expect to see the best exhibition of cricket that has yet been held in the Wairarapa, The match will be played in Stewart's paddock and upon a splendid pitch, Seats will bo provided for the ladies. To those who do not know the entrance to the ground we would suggest that by going by St Luke's Church and the Town Hall, the entrance will be marked with flags.

At the nomination for the office of Councillor in the Greytown Borough Council four candidates camo forward, viz, : Messrs Jus. Beard, B. Galkgher, \V. Hanmiei'icli and J. Quinn. The election is fixed for the Bth January, but there can be nn doubt as to the result, Mr Hammerich being well known as an energetic member in connection with the lute Local Board, and commanding the esteem of by far the majority of his fel-low-townsmen, We give the other candidates credit for their courage in coming forward and endeavoring to get their end of the town fairly represented, but think they should have deferred it to some better opportunity, Judging from the past action of the Council and the small amount of money at their disposal, they have endeavored to expend it as fairly as possible.