THE SINGLE-TAX.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2777, 1 May 1890, Page 2

THE SINGLE-TAX.

By George, there'll shortly be a change— Tis almost now at hand— We'll have ne tax on beer and wine, And only one on land. The man in trade will taxless be, As brewer, butcher, baker; But if he owns a bit of land, By George, we'll tax each acre. By George, all trades are privileged To earn what'er they can, And without taxes claim all rights The State confers on man. But he who owns a rood of land Its earnings must disgorge, For that alone will p;iy a tax And serve it right—By George. A nun in trade may make a pile, And when that pile contents Layout the money he lias earned In 3 or i per cents. His income will bj all his own, He need not pay a copper. And, though it may astonish some, By George, it's only proper. The money-lender may go free, Wo'll have no tax on trade, The merchant may both buy and sell, And keep whato'er he's made. But if he speculates in land The tax on him will fall; By George, he'd better keep his cash, Since land must pay for all. Some think that we might tax champagne, And beer, cigars, and gin. The things that we can do without Might well bring money in, There's pictures, gold and silver plate Might well be taxed they say, By George they're wrong, a single tax Is all that we need pay. The land in town and country both Has lately had a fall, The unearned increment has been Much less, than none at all, But still our debts will all be paid If we but tax the land No need of Customs duties and By George, won't that be grand. I know a man, with land in town, Who says he'd be content, If, houses that are on it, would But pay the rates in rent, But what with flitting tenants Rates and taxes, and repairs, He has long been out of pocket, He most solemnly declares?. By George, we all are growing wise, We now can understand, How taxes may be all cut off Except the ono on land. The millions we have borrowed Will be shortly paid as well, But when, or why, or where, or how, By George, I cannot tell. Nemo.