The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10,1883. TAXATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 263, 10 October 1883, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1883. TAXATION.

The continued falling off of the Customs revenue oaused, it is presumed, by the various temperance organisa tyops, i# pausing some anxiety m the miods of our colonial statesmen. The Deer daty receive^ during *ho past halfyear only amounted ]bo $bp#£ h. alf of whftb was estiraa'.ed, and the question arises, from, wfrat aource the deficiency is to be obtained fop the Treasury chest. When we are aware that the interest on the money borrowed by the colony amountß to the enormous sum of #7000 per day, it is manifest that the oolony must provide some new mode of taxa- . tion m order to maintain its credit m the London market. The matter is being discussed m the south of the colony, and it has been suggested that

with- ut disturbing the operations of the Property Tax, the valuations of whic'i have been taken at considerable cost for three years, some of the political objects of a Land Tax, which Sir Q. Gbey has so long contended for, might be obtained by means of a progressive sur-tax. That is to tay, m addition to the sum paid under" the Property Tax Act m respect of any estate, an extra, tax might be levied on estates above a certain area of value, say, for example, to commence at a high figure, that all estates over £10,000 m value, without improvements, paid Id m the & extra, then those above £15,000 might be charged 2d m the £ extra, those above £20,000 3d m the £ extra, and- so on, the extra tax being only paid on the excess over the limit at each step. To bring such a mode of taxation into exist a nc* would be inexpensive, as the machinery is at hand. It would prevent the accumulation of large estates, and would tend to throw more land into the market and keep down the prices, — it would, reach a class who ought to be reached— viz., absentee lani-owners, who draw large revenues from the co'ony to be spent elsewhere, and contribute to taxation only through the Property Tax. The l suggestion is one worthy of consideration, more especially at the present time, of all who have carefully watched our latest customs' returns, and are desirous of seeing our finances placed on a better foundation.