The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 18889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2666, 13 August 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 18889.

In last Saturday's Supplement we published part third of the seventh of the series of political articles written by Dr. Laishley. In the course of these trenchant papers the learned doctor has reviewed the whole position of the colony and the causes which have led to the confusion of its public affairs. He has criticised in no gentle ruood the laches of successive Governments, and the evils arising from the disorganisation of the. legislative machinery of the country. Dr. Laishley is equally as severe on Parliament for its effeteness and corruption, as on the Colonial Treasurer and his Cabinet for their incapacity and the weakness of their administration. He has, also, entered at great length into advocating those remedies which he considers absolutely needed for the political and commercial restoration of New Zealand ; and he has given us his views on the direction which economy should take, and that, certainly, is a very long way indeed. Df. Laishley is, probably, one of that school of economists whose opinions on the politics of the day fall, for a time, unheeded on the general mass of the public ; and whose writings, owing to peculiarity of mannerism, invite opposition and prejudice more readily than the approval and support of those who agree with them. Yet, we have observed that Dr. Laishley has evidently made an impression on the Auckland public, if we may judge by the favourable reception lie received at the recent meeting in the Lornc-street Hall in support

of the late stonewall. Therefore, we may take it for granted that ho lias touched a sympathetic chord in the minds of a section, at least, by the boldness of his writing or the force of his arguments in the cause of political morality and good government. One point in the Evangel series we may here refer to. In the recapitulation of his theses, in the concluding paper, Dr Laishley lays stress upon ii wise settlement of the country as a primary condition to effect a complete recovery of the colony. He insists upon it that the ranks of the wealth-producers must be largely increased in order to lighten the burdens of taxation now sitting so heavily on the shoulders of the colonists, Immigration was abandoned, and the Proporty-tax laid his iron grip on tlio land. Long before the period of the expenditure of borrowed tnouey, and public works had run its course, the State had foolishly ceased to import fresh flesh and blood, bone and sinew, to occupy our lands, develop our natural re- . sources, and give that true and genuine progress and prosperity which should have been an im,moveable plank in the colony s policy. Without that influx of new population, the boasted " leaps and bounds" of the colony were fictitious, mere evanescence, because the necessary back-bone was wanting. Then followed the effects of the property-tax on capital, and in place of immigration with a swelling population we have emigration and a stationary population. Such is the result of mis-government, the product of Parliamentary government as carried out in New Zealand. Dr. Laishley denounces the property-tax, he •- condemns Sir Harry Atkinson's control of the country's finances as founded on false principles. The tax has destroyed the value of property, and has restricted labour by scaring away capital. In his opinion the very class whom the property-tax passes by, feel its effects the most; the working classes are the greatest sufferers by the withholding of capital from investment in legitimate industries. There is much undeniable truth in this argument. Therefore, it is not surprising to learn that the exempted class—the wage-earners —are most anxious for the repeal of the obnoxious tax, in consequence of its disastrous influence on capital. Dr. Laishley has declared that one and a-half millions sterling could be saved annually, and he has demonstrated how that can be done. If we understand him rightly, he arrives at tiiis by proposals to lease or sell the railways in order to put an end to the enormous drain on the country for interest sent abroad to pay the English creditors. He would abolish a number of superfluous offices, cut clown the departmental services and reduce the cost of State education. Whilst abhoring taxation, its necessity for the purposes of State is admitted ; but it should be made as light as possible and be imposed as indirectly as it can, in order not to injure or weigh unduly upon any class of the community, nor check the legitimate use of capital in the industrial development of the country.