NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1149, 9 June 1911, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

Judging by the full report; of his spccch published in the IVairarapa Ar/e, Mil. Heruert, one of the Reform candidates for the Masterton seat, is likely to prove a vigorous and outspoken fighter in the coming campaign. At one time a supporter of Mr. Ballakce, and later still a follower of Mr. Seddon, like many others who have noted the steady drift of the Government into reckless and autocratic ways, Mk. Heiujeht sees in the Reform party the only hope of bringing to an end the conditions which arc corrupting our public life and menacing tho future of the Dominion. Out of the Reform party Mr. ITerrert hopes to sec spring a New Zealand party imbued with a national spirit as : distinct from the selfish party spirit' which has afforded the Ministry the means of bending Parliament to its

will and of usurping absolute power unto itself. We arc all familiar with tin; fact that whether they think it right or wrong the supporters of the Government follow their leaders blindly into the lobby whenever those leaders choose to make a question a party issue. If this practice were conlincd to questions of policy or to matters of principle, it would be quite bad enough; but it is used on all kinds of occasions; even on the most trifling issues. The result of course is that the country is governed by ar. autocracy consisting of Silt Joseph Ward—probably the most secretive Prime Minister New Zealand has ever endured —and his subordinate Ministers, whom he bends to his purpose on all important questions. In these circumstances it is of very little use returning to Parliament supporters of the Government, however great their personal claims may be, unless it is fully recognised that in doing so an electorate is simply binding itself hand and foot for three years to carry out the will of the Ministry. There can be no questioning this fact. The records of Parliament prove it beyond all possibility of dispute. It is a remarkable position for a democracy to find itself in. It is the outcome of two things: the return to Parliament of a weak class of members pledged to the Government; .incl the power which the Ministry possesses of dispensing favours or of punishing recalcitrants through the misuse of the public purse. That men of independence of thought with a patriotic regard for their country's future should revolt at such a state of things is not surprising. Mr. Herbert apparently is one of the growing number who feci that any change In the control of the country's affairs must be for the better.

We havo received a very large number of letters bearing on the JlacdonalE' case, all of which, with one exception, endorse the attitude taken by The Dominion, and make demand for further investigation. The exception is P. B. Atkinson, whose letter is dated from Nelson, and who says we have written a lot of arrant nonsense over this case, and that if we believe what we state we should take proceedings ourselves—that it is our duty to do so. We may at once inform Mr. Atkinson that wo havo not the slightest intention of doing anything of the kind. The publicity which we have been able to ensure for this case should prove quite sufficient to bring the matter -under the notice of the Justice Department, whose duty it is to take such steps as may lie necessary to provide that justice shall be done. Regarding the many letters which we have received from correspondents in all parts of the country protesting against the procedure followed in this case, and contrasting the decision of the Court with the decisions given in other cases, we do not think it desirable at the present time to publish any more of these. Occasion , may arise later to refer to the matter again, but in the meantime enough has been disclosed, and a sufficient indication of public feeling 011 the question has been given to leave no excuse for the neglect of a full and impartial investigation by the Law Officers of the Crown.

A good deal of concern is being felt in New South Wales over the growth of taxation due to the operations of the Labour domination in the State and Federal Parliaments. To New Zealanclcrs the figures will bo very instructive, since the taxation question is of growing urgency here. Measured by New Zealand standards, the people of New South Wales would seem to be very well off indeed in this matter, and so in fact they would bo for the time being if the State were borrowing as lavishly as New Zealand'. It is only because of the enormous borrowing—which means the hiring of consumable goods—that the extravagant and unprecedented rate of taxation in New Zealand can be borne. When New South Wales entered the Federation, the taxation was £l 18s. 7d. per head. In two years it had risen to £3 2s. Id. pelhead. During the next eight years the increase only amounted to ss. 6d., making the rate for 1909-10 £3 Bs. Id. per head. In one year the State Labour Government has raised the figure to £4. Commenting upon these figures tho Sydney Morning Herald says:

Even if it were granted that all these expenditures were for purposes undeniably beneficial, the question would still remain whether their imposition was not a serious blunder. Another Jil 12s. per head in taxation cannot be faced without trouble, and injury to the community. It is all very well to stale that' it' will be placed upon the shoulders of thoso best able to bear it. But thoso peoplo are our chief employers of labour, .Mid' that' it' will affect all classes is certain. The Labour party used to talk about economy of administration, but they are already giving ample proofs that unprecedented extravagance in expenditure is t'o be their guiding principle, and it is one which is certain to check the progress of tho country.

In Now Zealand the taxation during 1910-11 was almost exactly £5 per head—a trifle more if anything. The Herald, speculates upon the possibility of the figure being forced up to that level in New South Wales:

As for ,£5 a head of taxation—well in these prosperous times we might bo forced to pay it, though it would he greatly oppressive, and retard our advancement; but in times less prosperous thero would 1)0 'a decided shrinkage, and we need a financial outlook which can stand.

The point here made is worth thinking about by the New Zealand taxpayers.