THE SINGLE TAX.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3024, 1 December 1891, Page 2

THE SINGLE TAX.

♦ —' — TO THE EDITOR. SlH,—lt is evident that my political platform is making headway, especially among the intelligent of tho colony. And why should it not, while I have "justice" on my side? There might be some little difference in our views on some matters ; but on the chief points the hnrmonv is marvellous. It is, however, rather unkind in one who may be iny chief supporter at the next election, to insinuate that I cannot make a square yard of land. Why, we who can consficate the land of the colony, take away taxation from "the poor working man," and place the burden on one class — the class who had dared to buy and pay for our land—can do anything. But on the whole, it is comforting to see the unanimity that exists between us. For instance : "All land is the gift of the Creator to men of all time," so that no individual has any riivit to what he has bought and paid for. That shows what progress we are making, thanks to Henry George. But as a politician who is bound to take a lending part when sent to Parliament. I declare that I am prepared t> go still further. As certiin as the land is the natural inheritance of man, and belongs to him in all time, so must all that is in the land, down to the centre of the globe. This is a self-evident fact. If " Justice " does not see this, he is indeed groping in the dark, and should read over Henry George again. You can at once see how wn hate been robbed of our just rights. We have actually to pay for the coal we use, whilo all coal-fields belong to "man in all time," as "his natural inheritance. " Justice" tells us in elfect (and " Justice" is wise, having read Henry George) that no one has any right to touch an ounce of our coal without the consent of onr great grandfathers and our great grandchildren, the people of all time. And this is as :lear as the sun, if wo have a natural right to tho land, wo have a natural fight ta all that is in it. No ono outsido the lunatic asylum can deny this, If the land is ours (and "Justice " says it is) then all minerals in the land are ours. Let us be just to ourselves. Now, If a man stole my horse, and sold it to (Tones; and Jones sold it to Smith, and Smith sold it to Brown, with whom I found the animal, I would lay claim to it, and punish the original thief. Now we take it f'ir granted that tho land is ours, then of necessity all the land contains is ours. They have gone and dug our ore without the consent of all men ; they have wickedly made it into iron, and manufactured it into spades, and various implements, and at the corner store they are exhibited for sale. Now as the whole of these proceedings are based on robbery, the robbery of our ore ; we have as much right t> those implementa as we have to tho land out ot which the oro was taken. Surely " Justice " must see this, unless ho is blind. And futther : If wo have a natural right to the land, we must have a right to what comes out of it. See what a harvest of wealth there is before us! If we can carry out these grand socialistic principles, the poor working man will be the only gentleman in the country. For if we claim the land we can claim almost everything. What right has the farmer to grow wheat in my land without my consent ? But " Justice " has broached an idea, so good and noble, worthy of the government of this colony, namely, the man who has bought land and paid for it. is to be placed on a level with a slave dealer, and the man who steals a horse. There is justice for you with a vengeance. How should anyone dare to buy land, and pay for it simply because a constituted government made it lawful for them to do it, and sold them the land, receiving payment, and giving a legal title to them and their heirs for ever? Disgraceful ! Let it be known throughout the civilised world, that we who swe*r by Henry George and our present. Government places the man who buys a farm and pays for it, on a level with the criminal who steals a horse. And as soon as we have, by our single tax, screwed the small farmer out of existence, and forced all who have bought land, to throw it up without receiving compensation; we will write an ode to immortalize the wisdom of Henry George, and to make the farce complete, wo will dedictate it to " Jubtic."—l am, etc. A. J. Oke3.