OUR NEW DEPARTURE.

Evening Star, Issue 7641, 18 June 1888, Page 4

OUR NEW DEPARTURE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The instinct of the Englishman k certainly conservative, and generally speaking he is satisfied to work himself from the lower to the higher environment of prosperity. The want of finality in our fiscal policy is an irritating drawback to this end. It will be interesting to watch the new development of departure our delegates have been pleased to make, and this time next year to compare notes. Of course the end desired is increase of population, wealth and work for all, with prosperity generally. Respect for vested interests is one of the bulwarks of our success as colonists, as also of the Mother Country. Hence the incubus of Protection, once planted, will be very difficult to shake off. This also is apparent in that obnoxious of all taxes—the Property Tax. It seems firmly planted—if all the colonies had it, well and good j and by the infliction thousands of pounds have and are being withdrawnfrom the colony almost every mail. Taxation surely should be based on the principle of from each according to his means—rich and poor alike, in proportion to what we have. The latter through the Customs ; the former by an income and unimproved land tax and Customs. Revenue we must have ; but too much through the Customs is unfair to the working man ; and a levy on unproductive cash is far worse, because it affects both rich and poor alike. It is the fulcrum of both in this ago of civilisation, and very sensitive of interference. —I am, etc., Lumper. Dunedin, June IG,