The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, DEC. 17, 1891.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3031, 17 December 1891, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, DEC. 17, 1891.

Equal and exact justice to all men, political.'

The Premier is in Auckland, and is to address a public meeting to-night, lie will, no doubt, receive a cordial reception from those who have already swallowed the unanalyscd nostrums lie lias prepared for them, but it is to be hoped that those who differ from him will, by a series of questions, judiciously and respectfully worded, extract from him his reasons for believing that his policy is judicious find just, the results he anticipates from its enforcement, and the reasons which, to his mind, justify his expectations. They should not be satisfied with unmeaning Hum, but look to him for the facts which are, or should be, the logical basis upon the soundness of which, both in a moral and physical sense, depends the future of the colony. The avowed object of

is taxation proposals is to burst up

the large estates. Those who differ with him in this respect have a right to ftslc for a reason, beyond that it is the will of a majority, and the hold statement that they are prejudicial to the State. He has spoken distinctly as to his intention of taking by taxation Unit which men, in accordance with the law of the country, have acquired by handing their accumulated capital to the governments of thn day, in order ! that public works might lie cxi.ruted and the profitable .settlement of the country rendered possible. Jf he does not contemplate comprii.i.ition, to every well-balanced mind, the proposal is iniquitous, and it' he does, the duty devolves upon him of explaining how the money is to be provided. It would be well also that he should be asked to reconcile the two positions he has taken up with regard to the taxation of bonds held by the public and private creditors of the colony. .Mr Ballance very properly set his foot down when some of his party—a little less honest or less judicious than himself—suggested that partial repudiation of our public debt should take place by means of a taxto ho deducted from the interest which we had undertaken to pay. He has not hesitated, however, to placo a tax upon the bonds issued by companies, and has suggested that the amount of the tax shall be

flcfliictpfl from this interest payabli-. j lln did not consider that such <;l;ir- > inc; dishonesty as regards tlir- public j debt was justifiable, but does not hfisitnto to indnavour to compel the. directors of certain companies to do that which In: condemned. In tins lit; is pretty L,'eneritl!y believed to have exceeded tin; power of Parliament. The National Association Committee; are tliu proper people to compile the questions wo suggest nnd others that may occur to them. There is no means more effective of sifting the chaff from the wheat of a policy than asking for distinct answers to appropriate questions.