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Evening Star, Issue 16629, 11 January 1918, Page 4

The Otago Land Board evidently believe that the widow Eenmore Settlers, from Benmore who made her application on Wednesday has reasonable grounds for asking for relief, since she secured a promise that representations on her behalf would be made to the Government. We have made some inquiries on our own account about this matter, and learn that the husband, a discharged soldier who took np one of the Benmore farms, was accidentally drowned whilst out looking for some of -his sheep that had strayed; that almost as soon as he began to farm his holding he had grave doubts as to whether the good land in his area was of sufficient extent to ensure profitable working, the fact being that of the 648 acres only 146 can be described as arable, the remainder being so stony that even tussocks will not grow; and that the bare possibility which existed in the husband’s lifetime (he as a discharged soldier having certain rights to assistance) has disappeared by his ddath, since the statute makes no provision for passing on those rights to his widow. T-his unfortunate widow is now in a fix. She is saddled with all her husband’s responsibilities, she has found that his fear about the poverty of the area as a whole has developed into a certainty, and she has no legal claim to the assistance which he could have commanded. We' assume thatthe representations by the Land Board will have reached Mr Massey, Minister of Lands, before his visit to Otago is ended, and our present object is to back np the suggestion that some immediate steps should be taken to meet this and other possible cases of the same nature. The deserving widow of a deserving soldier must not be allowed to go down under her difficulties. Mr Massey can surely find some,, way to lend a helping hand. We are sure that the applicant does not ask for consideration of the compassionate order, but rather that she be given a fair chance to fight her way. Related to her trouble is the grievance which we are assured, is felt by other discharged soldiers who have taken up Benmore holdings—the grievance that they do not hold enough good land. One of these men, it is said, has to go away to work for his neighbor in order to make a living; another has an area of I,ICO acres, and he cannot work more than 300, the rest being stone; whilst a third has about as much chance of raising crops or grass as he would have if he ploughed and sowed the Ninety-mile Beach. We hops that Mr Massey will obtain through the Land Board a' full statement of the position at Benmore, and then handle the question promptly.

The subject .of post-war taxation is already exercising ■ the ■ Taxation After best intellects of Great the War. Britain, and one of the most recent analyses of the problem of providing ways and means of meeting the claims of the huge National Debt when hostilities cease is furnished by that world-famed economist. Dr Marshall. He brings to .the task the ripe judgment of a long life of unintermittent study and the plastic mind which keeps itself sensitive to the new impressions of new times. Under the title ‘Taxation After the War’ he discusses in all its infinite complexity the subject of adjusting the burden equitably upon the different classes of the people. He assumes that the revenue required by the Imperial Exchequer will certainly be twice as much after the war as was needed before German militarism plunged the British Empire into a course of unparalleled destruction of wealth. Professor Marshall begins the “ search for the least detrimental distribution of the future heavy burden of taxation.” The quest is not an easy one; but he

manages to throw the light of clone reasoning on all the many sources of revenue, and his conclusions are worthy of. a moment’s notice. Whilst not condemning a measure of indirect taxation by means of duties on commodities, he is satisfied it cannot be made sufficiently productive to bo a main prop of post-war finance. With unerring logic he points out, too, the injury to business undertakings that severe taxation of commodities is liable to inflict. “If a great part of the revenue is derived from 1 taxes on commodities consumed by the people, then either the standard of living of the people must be lowered or the taxes must ultimately be paid by their employers; therefore it must in the main fall on the income obtained from capital in business.” Now, capital employed in production must be kept as fre© from burdens as possible after the war, in order to facilitate the speedy rehabilitation' of the peace industries of the Empire. Again, Dr Marshall sees no prospect of success from tho point of view of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the taxation of the poor. Such taxation might gt> to the point of being very oppressive to tho laboring man without yielding anything substantial to the State. He does not, indeed, urge tho exemption oven of the poorest from taxation to liquidate the debt of war, believing that the sense of sacrificing participation in tho losses of the great conflict should be generally diffused. “ But the greater part of whet they contribute directly to the Exchequer should be returned to them indirectly by ganerous expenditure from public funds, Imperial and local, for their special or even exclusive benefit.” In .-hurt, the writer sees no escape from a steeply graduated Income Tax, accompanied by rigorous imposts on all forms ri extravagant expenditure. We find ourselves ready to accord him the utmost energy of approval when he says that “pleasure derived from a display of wealth can be made a source of revenue without considerably injuring those who are rased.” If wise statesmanship resumes control of the destinies of this Dominion on the restoration of peace, purse-pro id ostentation of all kinds will stagger under unexampled fiscal loads.

Mr Paulin telephoned at 2 pSm.:— South-east to north-east winds; thick rain and mist; improving after 12 hours. Ihe rainfall from 8 p.m. yesterday to 8 a.m. to-day was 64 points. The Tapanui Courier ’ states that an organised gang of Southland poachers are said to be working the Upper Pomahaka, Waipahi, Otamita, and other streams, dynamiting fish in a wholesale manner. They use acetylene lamps, and work at night and in early morning. Rangers are looking out for the poachers, and it is to bo hoped that they catch them at their illegal pastime. At the annua! meeting of the Dunedin and Suburban Grocers’ Picnic Association, hold in the Trades Hall on Tuesday evening, there was a good attendance of grocers and assistants. The report and balance-sheet disclosed a very successful picnic as regards attendance, even although the weather was not ideal. The financial part was also satisfactory, meeting all expenses, and with a small credit balance. The retiring president, Mr H. Russell (who has left the trade), thanked the executive for their loyal support during the two years ho had the honor cf being their president, and hoped that the incoming president would have the same loyal support from his committee as he bad had. It was decided to hold the 1918 picnic at Porfobello on Saturday, February 9, a special steamer to be engaged for-the occasion, the time of sailing and returning of which will be duly advertised. The following office-bearers were elected:— President, Mr W. Rennick; vice-presi-dents, Messrs Wheatland and Griffiths; secretary, Mr D. Henderson (re-elected); treasurer, Mr T. Kershaw (re-elected); auditors, Messrs Roberts and Kane; trustees, Messrs Wright and Baxter; committee—Messrs M'Cormacfc, White, Fraser, Benfell, and Barrow.

The .annual conference of the New Zealand National Nurserymen's Association will be held this year in Christchurch, ■commencing on January 23. The conference, which will discuss important horticultural and arbori cultural subjects, is expected to be the largest and most important yet held in the Dominion The due date fixed by Order in Council for the payment of both ordinary and special war tax is the 28th of January, and the last day of payment is 18th February. Inquiries made at Wellington on Monday (says the ‘ Post ’) show that the Tax Department will probably, bo . late in getting out' a good many of the demands, but in such cases the Commissioner will fix a new date, for which power is given under the Act. It may be explained that last year the tax was payable in two sums, on different dates, but this led to misunderstanding on the part of many taxpayers, and it has been resolved, therefore, this year to make the tax payable on one day, as has hitherto been the practice.

Some interesting evidence was given before the Adelaide Equity Court in connection with the law suit .which concerned the business difference between Miss Ada Reeve, the popular comedienne and vaudeville artist, and her husband. Miss Reeve said she paid big prices for her dresses, but a woman who was entertaining the public should do that. If she sold her jewellery to-day she estimated that she would get £2,800 for it. Mr Cotton, the husband, stated that before they went to South Africa the wife’s diamonds were pledged; he thought the amount was £BSO. They were redeemed after his return to England, the money for that purpose being taken from the surplus in hand, partly from the South African tour. Miss, Reeve received an average salary of £3lO per week in South Africa. In some of the pantomimes at Home she received £250 a week. During her Australian season in 1914 she received £350 a week, subject to certain commissions. The contract was for 20 consecutive weeks. She never regarded her husbajad as an adventurer. When introduced to him in London by a mutual friend she was struck by his charming manner, and that was why she married him quickly. As already stated, Mr Justice Harvey granted the injunction restraining the defendant from interfering with his wife’s musical business except with her permission.

Through some inexplicable cause (says the ‘ Orepuki Advocate ’), probably on account of the large quantity of machinery that is exposed at the shale works in Orepuki, the vicinity of that locality, known as Shaleopolis, has been visited by lightning on more than one occasion. Some tune ago the huge chimney connected with the works was destroyed by the agency of lightning. Tim thunderstorm which passed over the district on the evening of New Year’s Day was very severe in the locality mentioned, and'three trees located many chains apart were set oh fire at their tops by the electric discharge. One of the trees is eighty feet high. Prom the time it was struck, residents have had an anxious time guarding their property from fire. Another tree, struck by the current in its gravitating path, has now burned down to the roots. The third tree is located fully half a mile distant. In each case the trees held commanding positions, and were in a state of decay, but . the inexplicable part of the uncanny business'.is how did the trees manage to becomg ignited when they were saturated with the drenching showers which preceded' the visitation. The fires in all the stricken mammoths started simultaneously, and each of them started burning from their tops downwards. At present they are gradually being consumed by the element, and ara a centre of interest in Orepuki. Despite restrictions, the famous Watson’s No. 10 whisky still sold. Ask for it,—[Advt.] The Port Chalmers Bowling Club, owing to the unfavorable weather now prevailing, have put off to-morrow’s gala bowling tournament until next Saturday.

Washing your dirty linen in public, ” is a phrase that should never be used in refined Booioty unices to prove bow quickly "No Subbing ” Laundry Help washes all dirty linen clean without the • rubbing slavery. Your grocer stocks “No Rubbing.—[Advt.] The express train leaving Dunedin at 11.15 a.m.' to-morrow will stop at Waitati to set down passengers. Akaroa has the most perfect climate to be found. A holiday there will convince you. The seaside without the noisy breakers. Perea from Christchurch, 2Ss return.— [Advt.] Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money.— [Advt.] *