The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, . Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1892.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3126, 28 July 1892, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, . Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1892.

A meeting of the New Zealand Farmers' and Country Settlers' League was held in Chrhtchurchon the 13th inst. The proceedings are mainly interesting from the circumstance that they evidence that the land occupiers in Canterbury have awakened, somewhat late in the day it is true, to the fact that their duty to themselves does not begin and end in so managing their properties as to be able to meet interest on borrowed money, pay taxes, general and local, and by strict economy to have something left with which to improve their properties with the hope, that at an uncertain future date they will be able to relieve themselves from the first named tax on results. The first two resolutions are very much in the direction of shutting the door after the horse has escaped. In effect they are that the League will oppose all class legislation and all attempts to place heavier burdens upon the owners of land than upon the holders of other kinds of property. We have frequently pointed out that the sliding scale of the Land Tax is purely class taxation, also, that tho landholder is more heavily taxed than any other class in the community. One of the speakers to the latter resolution pointed out that a tax on mortgages must recoil upon the farmers as it was they who were principally liable for the thirty millions involved. We have been at considerable pains to point to this fact on several occasions, but it is only by reiteration that a permanent impression is made on the public mind, this must be accepted as justifying a return to the subject. Under tho present legislation every half-penny of money lent on mortgage is taxed to the extent of Is 3d in the £. On the other hand, incomes up to £300 derived from any other source are exempt from taxation, and up to .£IOOO per annum only pay 6d in the £. A resolution was passed condemning as a national breach of faith any proposals to nationalise the land owned by private citizens without paying full compensation. This was no doubt passed in consequence of the speeches from the platform by the Premier. A. land tax, however, in any shape is the n'rst step in that direction, but if confined within reasonable limits by the watchfulness of such associations as the Farmers' League there is no danger of this result being arrived at. There were several other resolutions condemnatory of the taxation policy of the Ministry as being inimical to the interests of the farming population, which evidence that public opinion is awakened. Some of these are not very happily phrased but their meaning is nevertheless clear. The grievance to which the greatest prominence is given is, that landowners are more heavily taxed than any other class and sr-veral resolutions bear on this fact. The following, however, is somewhat illogical, as it implies that the progressive tax on land would be justitied were a similar course pursued with owners of money. It reads thus : " That this League declares that the imposition of a progressive land tax upon the owners of land, while exempting the owner.? of money from progressive taxation is class legislation hostile to farmers and landowners and a violation of their rights to equal laws." There is another resolution which it may bo well to quote: —"That this League declares that it is unprincipled and dishonest for any politician to advocate that any class of citizens able to pay taxes, should not pay their fair shai-e of necessary taxes." We take it that the meaning of this is that there should bo no exemptions from the Land Tax—a propositiou which we thoroughly endorse. Make the Tax. universal, obliterate the pro-

gressive clauses, exorupt improvements, and there is no objection to be taken to a Land Tax, prosified it is not on an inordinately high scale, when compared with the bunions imposed on other interests.