CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 272, 16 November 1896, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

SIR GEORGE GREY AND THE

SINGLE TAX.

{To the Editor).

Siß,—ln your leading article of Friday night yon quote me as having stated at Ponsonby and the Foresters' Hall thab Sir George Grey waß a believer in the principle of the single tax, and while acquitting mo of wilfully misleading my hearers by misrepresenting hia views on this importanb question, you say my remarks disclose an ignorance of his opinions on the subject unpardonable in one who undertakes to epeak in his name. Now.in tho first place,l did nob undertake to speak in his r.ame, but simply stated -what is an undeniable fact, thab Sir Georga Grey has been for years Presidenb of the Single Taxers League in Auckland, and a liberal subscriber to its funds, and at Ponsonby I read a letter from Sir George Grey, written since ha went to London, to the Secretary of the League, which spoke for itself and for Sir George Grey.

" The objects of the League are plainly atated in the rules of tha Society, and are as follows : The objects of the League shall fee to spread by such peaceablptand lawful means ac may be found lnosbt^irable and efficient, a knowledge ot the truth, that God has made"'provision for the needs* of all men during tlioir residence upon earth, and that involuntary poverty ia the result of the human laws that allow individuals to claim as private property that which the Creator has provided for the use of all, and fay every constitutional means to wage an active warfare against the conditions that, in spite of tho advance in the powers of production, condemn so many to degrading-poverty, and foster vice, crime, and greed." Now. if you are prepared to maintain that Sir George Grey waa such a humbug as to be President and subscribe to the funds of a League with these objects, and yet object to tbe principle, the responsibility must ba with you, I docliue to accept it. Regarding the principle of the single tax, I shall bo quite willing to discuss io with you some time later on, bub recognising this reform to be only in the academic stage, and at present outside the range of practical politics, Ido not just now consider ib needful to do more than avow, as I have consistently done, my. adherence to the principle. My proposal with .reference to the land question is tho addition of a penny in the £ to the present land tax, with the abolition of existing class exemptions, the revenue thus obtained to be devoted to providing an old age pension fund, remitting the duty on kerosene, and some of the breakfaßt table duties. These proposals I am prepared to leb the electors endorse or condemn ab the ballob box.—l am, etc.,

Georgk Fowlds

[We are awaro that Sir George Grey was " Honorary President" of tho Anti-Poverty Society which avowed oingle-tax views, bub hia own opinions on tho single tax wore bo well-known thab the facb of contributing to tho funds of thia Society, as he did to many others, should not be made an oxcuse for misrepresenting his position. Sir Geo. Grey made hundreds of speeches on the Bubjectot the land tax.and has discussed the question personally with many citizens— with the present .writer frequently—and we are surprised to find that even one man who took an interest in the subject was unaware that Sir Georgo Grey repudiated the doctrines of the single tax and declare.! lor an equitablo distribution of taxation apon land and income. The address delivered before the Single Tax League in Mew South Wales in 1891, which we have already quoted, is conclusive on tho subject, jut many other uttorance. as explicit mighb >eadily be given. Mr Fowlds' proposals .vith regard to an increase in the land tax Are discus, ed in our leading columns to-aight.-Ed. E.S.J