The Marlborough Press. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1868.

Marlborough Press, Volume IX, Issue 596, 17 June 1868, Page 2

The Marlborough Press. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1868.

Mr Stafford, in his-late address to his constituents at Nelson, or more properly, we should say, to the colonists of New Zealand—for though termed an address to his'constituents, it was certainly intended as an address to the - colonists—in his remarks on the passing of an Income Tax, said, “ I shall be much disappointed if the Government next session doea not see its way clear to propose such a measure.” We, in our turn, can only say that we shall be ' very much disappointed if the Govern- ‘ ment does see its way to pass any such : measure. That we shall have to bear • ■heavier taxation than that which we at the present time groan under we think there is little doubt, though many try to persuade themselves contrawise; for •'it is clear that with the large colonial and provincial debts already owing and - in course of contraction, and with* the '-' Still existing employment of an expensive and, to a very great extent, useless host "of" officials, whose duty for the ; most part consists in creating work for one another, and, to crown all, a largely diminishing revenue, we cannot look d .for, .neither would it be . reasonable to i ‘expect,; a diminution in taxation. With these mill-stones hanging round the „ .governmental neck, an increase must if result. \Vhateyer shape, however, this increase in taxation is doomed to take, .' .we are decidedly against an Income and “"•Property Tax, as being unfair in cha- • * racter and unjust in principle. *"‘ ;J A tax upon income and property means none other than a tax upon industry ° r and' and would be a tax on . the earnings of every man, be he artisan, , clerk, laborer, or otherwise, whose income amounted to over iPIOO or a year, or whatever sum might .fixed—and we may be sure it would Vfce low enough—thus bringing the lahoring claBS, who find it hard enough under present ordinary circumstances and existing taxation to procure the . common necessaries of life for themselves and families, within the reach of this tax, as well as the gentleman who revels in useless luxury. The injustice "of this tax would mainly be found in the levying 1 of it, as it would be almost to arrive at anything like a eStifnate of the incomes of those able to bear it, and therefore those it would be most desirable to ■ W" ' :::l

tax. For example, we read in many of the mining reports of the West Coast papers that so and so and party, miners, are obtaining an income of £ls per week per man from a claim, and that another party is obtaining £3O per man for the same period. Now, supposing our colonial tax gatherer was to this month go his rounds and take an estimate of the various individual incomes, where would he expect to find his digger friend—the man who in many instances obtains the largest income for the smallest out-lay—at the end of say a month. The very fact of New Zealand possessing a population of some 200,000 souls, of which 50,000 may be said to be a floating population, must for ever damn the passing of such a measure, much as Mr Stafford may desire it. On the face of it, it would be manifestly unfair that 50,000, who, besides being a floating population, carry with them in their migrations the larger portion of a floating capital, should get off scot free from the effects of such a tax—and it could not be helped—while the maximum of the population, whose intention it is to settle down in the colony, and by honest industry attain and accumulate property to their own benefit and consequently to the interest of the colony, should be burthened and clogged with the payment of it. Besides, the property of settlers is to a certain extent already taxed, and likely to be more so shortly, for Local Government and improvements, and it would, therefore, be as unfair as it would be injurious that it should be further rated for general purposes of government, and would certainly have a contrary effect to that desired, by driving away capitalists to other and fairer fields to invest their capital. There is one tax, however, we would most heartily recommend—one which would be perfectly fair and just, and from which a double benefit would arise —viz., a tax upon the land held in the colony by absentees. No tax too heavy, we think, could be imposed upon this class, and by an impost upon the land held by them the two-fold benefit would arise thus : First, If absentees continued to allow their land to lie idle, they would have to pay the heavy tax imposed; secondly, The tax thus imposed would to a great extent be a means of forcing them to dispose of that land, that is now lying waste, and which they will not dispose of at any reasonable price, thus allowiptr it, to become DODnlated nnd cultivated. A far greater proportion of the available land in this province is held by absentees than in any other province of New Zealand ; and it is perhaps due to this cause, as much as to any other, that the province is in such a poorly condition at the present time. Had the existing Government during the early settlement of the province have given the land away on conditions of settlement for a number of years, it would have been far more beneficial to the province than the disposing of it at a low price to monied men, whose desire is simply to acquire landed property, and who do not seem to wish either to cultivate or improve it for their benefit, or to allow others to do so. The only way to check their little game is to tax them heavily, and the heavier the more effectual. Such a tax would create a large revenue; and as' the absentees began to dispose of their land, the revenue would be as equally augmented by the settlement on it of a permanent population.

There is no doubt the Government is hard-pushed to find the where-with-all to pay and keep their expensive establishment moving; but if the populace still intend to quietly submit to this expenditure, we trust they will see the inexpediency of being made to yield to further taxation for that expense, at least in the shape of such an unjust and improper measure as an Income and Property Tax, and that the Government will hit upon some more feasible source of deriving a revenue than that proposed —a source not alone unjust, but one which, for its carrying out in anything approaching an efficient manner, will require an entirely new and expensive set of officials, to say nothing of its abominable inquisitorial nature.

In our issue of the 3rd instant, we notified that the office of Resident Magistrate for the Picton District had been abolished, and that the duties performed by Captain Mellish would for the future be performed by Dr Muller, who would come from Blenheim once a fortnight. At the same time we expressed a hope that the office of Clerk to the Resident Magistrate would not be abolished. In this hope, however, we find we have been disappointed, for we are informed that Mr Guy, who has for the last four years filled that position, has received notice that the office will either be abolished, or that the salary will be greatly reduced.

To the abolition of Resident Magistrates, we do not for a moment object, believing as we do that it is wise economy on the part of the Go-

vernment, and that their work can as efficiently be carried out by Justices of the Peace; but, situated as we are in this province, we trust the Government will see the advisability of retaining a clerk in Picton. It would be a source of great inconvenience, and in every instance would entail a large amount of expense on the inhabitants of the district, were they compelled to go to Blenheim, a distance of twenty miles, for summonses. Nor is it so much the distance that would require to be travelled for the transaction of business, as the delay that would necessarily occur—a delay greatly increased by the frequent occurrence of floods in the Blenheim district, rendering the roads at such times impassable, an instance of which we unfortunately have at the present time, communication between Picton and Blenheim being entirely suspended for some five or six days past.

As the Port of Picton is one at which vessels arrive and depart at a very short notice. It is often found necessary to procure summonses at as equally short notice, which of course would be utterly impossible should the office referred to be abolished. Reference to the number of summonses issued during the last month is sufficient evidence of the absolute necessity of the retention of the services of a clerk, and we trust that the authorities will reconsider the idea of either lessening the already small pittance (i? 125 a-year), or of abolishing the office.

As to Resident Magistrates, we are of the opinion expressed by Mr Lusk in his lecture at Auckland, on “ The history, and present position of taxation in New Zealand,'” portions of which will be found in another column. He says—“We do maintain troops of Resident Magistrates', some to do little good, many to do some harm.”

The great battle that was expected to take place for the seat in the House of Representatives for this district, vacated hy Mr Adams, has—to use the words of an elector —ended in smoke. On Thursday last the nomination of candidates look place, and up to the hour of the arrival of the Returning Officer, R. L. Muller, Esq, no one knew otherwise than that the three candidates intended to “ fight it out,” although it was thought likely hy many that Mr John Godfrey would, at the nomination, retire from the contest ; nor did their thoughts beguile them, for after an almost ineffectual attempt- to oht.nin a seconder, and the utterance ot a long winded bombcistcs fnrioso speech, the “ political firebrand ” retired from the contest, evidently chagrined at the cold support offered him, (two hands only appearing for him when the show of hands was taken) and with a heavy sigh expressed his sorrow that a “ free and enlightened” public should allow such rare merit as he possessed to “ waste its fragrance on the desert air.” In the opinion of a certain portion of the community Mr Godfrey may possess merits of very rare order, though we must confess we fail to perceive them. One, perhaps, we may give him credit for, and that is “ figures ;” but we leave it to the free and enlightened public to say what good has resulted from his “ facts.” We trust that this is the last time that ever we shall see Mr Godfrey on the political boards, and that once and for ever the curtain may bo lowered on the farce of “ John Godfrey, and how not to do it.” Mr John Godfrey has on every possible occasion appeared in the political arena, his one apparent object being to create discord and party feeling. To the surprise of not a few, Dr Sickler retired from the contest without a struggle. Perhaps it was as well that the Doctor pursued this course, for the idea that he was in some way politically connected with the Superintendent was so strongly imbued in the minds of many, that we are afraid that lie would have met with but a modicum of support.

Captain Kenny has thus won his position in a canter, for on a show of hands being taken, there appeared for the Captain 17, and for Mr Godfrey 2 ; and no poll being demanded, Captain Kenny was declared duly elected. We feel satisfied that the intentions of Captain Kenny are honest and well meant, and that his object for seeking the vacated seat is not, as has been imputed, of a pecuniary nature, but proceed from a sincere desire for the good of the district and the colony generally. A great deal cannot of course be expected from a young member ; but honest intentions, 'and a desire for the well-fare of his constituents, will cover a multitude of other defects ; and we hope that after the session lie will be able to lay before the electors a favorable account of his stewardship. En passant, we may inform Mr Godfrey that, we were nut sold to the breeohes-poeket aristocracy party, as he is pleased to <?xpress himself.