Notes by Colonus.

Clutha Leader, Volume XVII, Issue 875, 24 April 1891, Page 3

Notes by Colonus.

THE NEW BROOM. The old saying that a ' new broom sweeps clean ' seems pretty well exemplified by our spic arid span new Government. Whether the new broom will sweep quite as clean after it has bean in use a while is doubtful. Ie lias to be seen what Parliament will have to say to the new Government at the ensuing session, and what strength it has. Left at present to its devices, our new Government seems to be going well ahead, and its policy is at least vigorous. There is the Hon. Mr Seddon, who, in his onslaught on the civil service, is like a bull in a china shop, kicking right and left, and dismissing here and there, causing probably a good deal of wailing and gnashing of teeth, and if not curses at least objurgations, deep, if not loud. Then there is the Hon. John M'Kenzie, Minister of Lands, who has startled dummyism, making it look pale. That the law against dummyism shall no longer remain adead letter MrM'Kenzie seems resolved, and false declarations are not in future to be made with impunity. It appears there are two sorts of dummyism, one where ownei'S of large estates try to add to their properties by the use of dummies ; and another, where in balloting for sections of land advertised for sale, intending purchasers utilise their near relatives, sons and daughters, aunts and cousins, as dummies, so as to better their chances. This is certainly not fair for people who do not happen to have a supply of near relatives at hand, or having them, have some scruples of conscience against using them as dummies. It is certainly a puzzling question as to how best to dispose of the waste land. There are objections both to the ballot system and auction system. As to the Premier, the Hon. Mr Ballance, there are ruuiours that he intends to abolish i

J the property tax and substitute a land tax and 'income tax. A land tax it seems, but not on improvements. What does that mean ? Is it a burst-ing-up tax 1 ? Are the owners of unimproved land to be made to pay such a tax that it will be better for them to sell the land to people who will cultivate it and develop** the riches of the soil than pay the tax 1 Well, no doubt the withholding of land from cultivation is a considerable loss to the country. The abolition of tits property tax seems rather a risky proceeding on the part of the treasurer, who lives to provide a revenue. I think he had better leave it alone. If does not press heavily on the poorer part of the population, including small struggling land settlers. People with LSOO to the good can afford to pay it. If the property tax was abolished a land tax would have to be supplemented with an income tax probably, but for some reason or other there seem to be objections to an income tax in this country, apparently on account of the difficulty of collecting it, though in the Old Country an income tax has been in existence for many years. Whatever may be the' policy of the new Government, 1 hope it will be an honest and upright Government, though Ministers are ever under a temptation to deviate more or less from the right road for the sake of power and place. I hope, anyhow, Government will not consider it to be its nV:t duty to look out for it own existence, and that all its policy is to be subordinated to sticking in. That is rather a gross idea. v A little too too, you know.