FALLACIES OF SANE POLITICIANS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5628, 10 March 1879, Page 6

FALLACIES OF SANE POLITICIANS.

TO THB BDITOB OP THB I/VTTBITON XXMBS, Sib, — When a gentleman of pleasing address, and well known to his audience appears on a public platform to speak to his constituents and friends, he frequently puts forward many things which pass for sacred truths, when in reality they are the merest platitudes; and the grossest misrepresentations or positive misstatements, not only pass unchallenged, but are unthinkingly received as facts. Allow me to point out some such fallacies in the speech of Mr W. Rolleston, M.H.R., as reported in the Lyttelton Times of Tuesday last. In one sentence he points out that the Colony has gradually increased its debt until it amounts to over £20,000,003, (that, consequently the interest alone, about £1,200,000, requires additional taxation), and in the next sentence he sneers at the increased tation, which he says by the land tax is put upon wool growers and corn growers. (Is Mr Bolleston fortunate enough to be a wool and com grower?) He is blind to the fact that the twenty millions have been spent principally to benefit the said wool and corn growers, by enabling them to send their wool and corn more cheaply to market, and got their return supplies cheaper. Then he has a fling at firee trade and the reduction of Customs’duties,.for what he calls a “fad,” because it is a greater benefit in proportion to those of limited means, than to those of larger incomes who grow wool and corn.- He Would not grant any concessions by which living ‘inight-'-biecoml cheapei* in this Colony.; Oh! no. What does he mean by repeating the parrot cry of “ capital being wanted in the Colony ?” Capital is eating up the Colony. It is labour that is wanted. It is the husbandman—the yeoman who will work his own land. In Yorkshire they say— He that by the plough would thrive, ' Himself must either hold or drive. Capital only locks up the land, cheats the Government, and taxes the whole population. By always keeping in advance of population, capital increases the price of the land fourfold, fire-fold, ten-fold. It is capital that makes meat, and bread, and eggs, and butter, dear. If we have a want it is cheap capital—capital wielded by its owners—in trade and manufactures, steamers and sailing vessels, in our minerals and our mills ; not capital on loan and mortgage, which has to make a double return—to the borrower and the lender. Mr Bolleston pathetically cries out that the Land Tax is “deterrent ” of capital. Quite right, Mr E.,; what do you say to the burning question now brought forward at home —■“ -That capital has no business with land, unless it cultivates it?” Then to tax Joint Stock Companies was monstrous ; to tax beer, was to tax the farming interest !!! Mr Box’s argument was better than that. O tempera ! O mores ! Yet, I hope before very long to see capital in all shapes pay its fair proportion of taxation.—l am, &0., ; TRAVELLER.