The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Or whatever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, FED. 17, 1981.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2901, 17 February 1891, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Or whatever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, FED. 17, 1981.

Afjioii Uiu liji'lit M'r Is:illuuuo made in the House, to bo allowod some mouths to formuliitu a policy, it was not to bo expected that ho would bo very explicit at the banquet in Wanganui. Ho has, as did his late chief, Sir Eobort iStout, given us a sketch of his ideas, but lias not furnished us with one tittlo o£ information as to how ho purposes giving effoct to them. We will take tho points in his speech as telegraphed, and briefly consider them. It was ouly a duty which he owed to the Governor, to uniko souw amends for his dictatorial manner in ruforonce to calling Parliament together, and tho appointments to the Council. Ho pointed out that one of those measures was unnecessary, and thu other unconstitutional. Ho now speaks with responsibility upon his shoulders, and apologises for his want of knowledge and good manners- It is quite unnecessary to follow him through the two-ses-sion discussion, there can bo only ono opinion on that matter hold by any but mombers. and that is that tho country has boon put to needless cxponse, which is one of tho worst crimos in tho oyos of tho people, that a Ministry and its followers can be guilty of. Blunders of this sort, to put the case mildly, arc not readily forgotten or forgivon. Ho informed his hearers that a radical change in the incidence of taxation would bo proposed. Ho gives no details, but says tho object will bu to reliovo tho peoplo who are now bearing unjust and unduo proportions of the Property Tax, and to place it upon broader shoulders, which would bo bettor able to bear it. Ho then indulges in hopes, lirst. that ho will be able to tako some weight off the farmers and manufacturers, and transfer it to the backs of those who have acquired wealth in the colony, and am welt ablo to pay additional tiixaiinii. Tho ox-pro.s.-.iou of iii"i|ics in Mr liallance's casis implies tiiat he has some partially digested schonio which in his opinion will lead to thoir justification.

To reliovo those who arc opprnssod by taxation and put a share of (heir burden on shoulders better nblo to bear it is a principle that every man must endorse, but it must Tiover bo lost sight of by politicians, that class taxation has invariably led to disaster, and it is no unfair inference to draw, that it

is th'i inU'iiticn of Mr liallanco to place an oxcoptional tax on thoso who liavo " tiffjiiirorl wealth iti the colony." Tiiu inference to bo drawn fi-oiii the spoficii as is tliat the abolition of the I'roperty-tnx is not contomphiled. Tiievo are only two courses t.lierofore opcin by which to shift tlio burdens about, tho one to increase the sum of exemption and the other to increase tho rate payable above a certain value Wts '.annor. o-et over the fast that the money must be raised, and if it is to be by the I'ropert.y-tax. and tlioso who have •• acquired wealth in tne colony '" are to be specially taxed, this appears to us the only feasible way of doing it. The only result of this policy would be to drive some of our best settlors from the colony, and the existence of such a system would effectually deter individuals or companies from casting- in their lot with us. From a socialistic point of view this may appear an advantage, but not so to men who are clear that the aims of socialists are impossible of attainment, and that for a legislature to attempt to forward them could only result in failure.

In rt-'fcreuijo to the hud, Mr Btdlance only afforded two facts for digestion—the one that there are only "2,850,000 acres of land unalieuated which an: fitted for pastoral and agricultural purposes, and the .second, that his Ministry was determined to crush out dummyisiii. Tho Premier expresses tlin opinion that the time has arrived when the Government should purchase arable laud, lit for small settlements. We are afraid that this system would be very open to abuse, and it is a matter for conjecture what reception this proposal will receive at the hands of some of Mr Ballance's followers, who have been sent to the House to force «i Land-tax on tho colony with the avowed object of setting rid of every man who has more than " three acres and a cow. , '

The Premier has evidently gauged the labour members as being susceptible to " butter/' He has put up a statement for the purpose of knocking it clown, but the " buiter" lmcl to be rubbed in, and an excuse for doing it be found. That the term "labour"' was used in a depreciatory sense was pure imagination. They are supposed to be his followers, and the hint that they should change their titles is suggestive of the hope on his part that they will rise above the selfishness of Trades Unionism; and remember that there are other classes than their own, a fact of which their constituents have been recently somewhat oblivious. Mr Ballance is of opinion that there should be legislation of a prudent character to bring labour and capital together. What this means we are at a loss to understand, they are, always have been, and always must be intimately related. What is wanted is legislation to compel arbitration and compliance with the arbiters' decisions. If the Ministry can introduce a workable Bill in this direction they will be entitled to much praise and much gratitude. There is to be no more borrowing without the colony, but it is equally clearly intimated that there is to be within it. The only ditt'erence so far ; is we can see is that we shall not lay ourselves open to a rebun', and that we shall probably pay one or two per cent, more interest for the home capitalists' money which will be sent here for investment. It is only natural that the Premier should depict the prospects of his Cto\eminent in the most glowing terms : if you wish other people to believe in you, you must appear to believe in yourself. It is not difficult, however, to predict from the programme before us that there will be serious dissension in the ranks.