THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2958, 30 June 1891, Page 2

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

TO THK KIMTOII. Sru,—ft is quite evident that Mr Ballauee intends to carry out a policy that will be just sufficiently coloured with liberalism to hold out a bait to the Land Tax party without being broad and daring enough to scare those followers of the beaten tracks con.monly called Conservatives. Tho cour.se is a dillicult one, and it is just possible that in attempting to please both parties he will meet with the catastrophe known as "falling between two stools." Time was when half and half men, who were neither Liberals uor Conservatives, could succeed even better than niuu of decided views, but those days are passed, and tho gulf between the opposing parties is now too wide to be bridged over by Mr Ballaucc or any other man. Thn diy has come when politicians must choose their side, and trilling with such a subject as the laud question will not be lightly forgiven by oue who calls himself a Liberal. The Financial Statement will certainly act like a shower-bath on all who were expecting auything like substantial reform. In the first place the Property Tax has not been abolished, and what ie wone, it hag been inady progressive, and the amount of tin; Lund Tax is scarcely iu excess of that which was raised through the former Property Tax. Shulliing of this sort is uot likely to be tolerated by those who hold that the unearned increment belongs rightly to the State, and not to the favoured few. Mr Ballauce says he has advanced as far towards the " ideal " us " sound finance " will admit. The "advance" is certaiuly a small one. and, to the unassisted eye, looks remarkably like standing still. I would like Mr Ballance to say why he would not without disturbing " sound finance" impose a Laud Tax of 1 per cent, which would yield more revenue than all his new taxes combined and would secure him thn support of every true Liberal iu the colony. A complicated system of graduations and exemptions is a piece of patchwork that is likely to bring the name of the Ministry and what is worse the name ot Liberal into eoutempt. Graduations and exemptions are in thair rery nature unjust and in a Land Tax would be quite unnecessary for the reason th.it it would bu levied on a value to which the " owner " has not theslighteet claim in law or reason. The Income Tax though a direct tax on industry, is certainly preferable to the Property Tax,but the form iu which it is supported by Mr Ballance is certainly extraordiuary; he proposes to tax tradesmen and others who derive their incomes from capital at the rate of Is in the £, while civil servants with double the exemption escape with 3d in the £, arid land owners, no matter how big their rent roll, escape scott free ; all this is so absurd and unjust that it is almost certain to be opposed by both sides of the House. It is almost certain that Sir George Grey will oppose the Government and it is also certain that the Labour party and a large number of the more decided Liberals will follow his lead this would of course wreck the Ministry the moment the Opposition chose to move a no-confidence motion and an appeal to the country would be the result. I dou't however believe that a dissolution is at hand. The tide of Liberal fe?ling is «t present far too strong for the Opposition, and though an appeal to the country would probably not Lcuefit the Government, it certainly would not benefit tho Opposition, and Mr Ikyeo is far too clear sighted to go to the country at an unfavourable moment; his plan will be to wait until the maladministration of Mr Ballauce has brought the Liberal party into disfavour and a reaction has set iu as it did iu lbS7 favouring a Conservative majority. Then and not till then will be struck the final blow, and I venture to say that the election that will follow will bo the must important that the colony has ever witnessed. Sir George Grey by apleudid natural powers and great political experience is eminently fitted to lead the Liberal party and it is my earnest hope, a hope that will, I believe, be echoed by every genuine Liberal throughout the length and breadth of the land that after the next elections he will be returned with a strong majority at his back.—l am etc., Julian.