A NOVEL TAXATION SCHEME.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3093, 12 May 1892, Page 2

A NOVEL TAXATION SCHEME.

TO THK KDITOB. Sin,—ln your Supplement of the 30th April, I read the paragraph under the heading of " A Novel Taxation Scheme, which, I think, has much to comment on. There is no doubt, if the rates on the railways were reduced by half, an immense amount more produce could be sent from the country, as it would leave a better margin of profit for our exporters ; it would also tend to reduce the price of produce tc the townspeople, and of course there would be a cm-responding amount of goods brought back in exchange for the produce. Ihns it would benefit the townspeople as much or more than the country people, and it would greatly increase the number of settlers. There is no doubt also that the construction of railroads should be paid for by the taxpayers the same as common roads, and a general tax for the purpose would open the railways to freer traffic, and would improve the value of property. This is the idea of many people, and has been referred to in public some time ago in this district. The present rates of carriage imposed to pay profit or interest are nothing else than a toll for the use of vailroads, while tolls on common roads are abolished as an injustice. The direct taxation, as suggested, although unpopular, is no doubt better than raising money by Customs duties, as the latter unquestionably comes with double severity on the consumer, and especially the farmer and producer, and in the long run the burden of taxation rests on the settlers, the value of whose produce is regulated by the export market.—l am, &c, Subscriber,