MR ORMOND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1803, 2 October 1884, Page 2

MR ORMOND.

(Wanganui Herald,) This rather shy bird of polotics, we notice, has been induced to settle at last, and has perched, for a time at all events, on the Government side of the House, as their half-loaf of relieved : Property Tax seemed better in his eyes than the " no bread" of the Continuous Ministry. Mr Orniond hates the Property Tax, and would even prefer a, Land Tax, the latter to be expended locally, and an Income Tax if necessary. There are very many people of his way of thinking, as it is plain the Property Tax presses unequally, and is in many cases flagrantly evaded. Victoria and South Australia have a Land Tax, and are both in a flourishing state, the former especially, notwithstanding the terrible outcry there was at the time that a Land Tax would drive every monied man out of the country, and leave it in a state of beggary. Monied men are not so easily driven out of a country, and those who stuck to Victoria, in spite of the dreaded Land Tax, are now richer than ever, as land has risen instead of fallen in Value since the tax was levied. The support of a man of Mr Ormond's political standing must be very valuable to the Government at the present time, All we hope is that they will not be tempted to pay too high a price for it, as it is plain he fights for his own hand, and and wi|l stick to no party one moment longer than their measures suit his individual opinions. This is a pity, as Mr Ormond is a clever man, and one whose services the country could well do with were he to widen his aspirations, and devote to the colony the talents he now applies to the limited area ot his own interests and personal views.