PROPERTY AND INCOME TAX.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 316, 27 November 1875, Page 2

PROPERTY AND INCOME TAX.

To the Editor of the • Evening Mail' Sib— Permit me to say that by far the most hopeful sign that I see for the future good government and prosperity of New Zealand is the public feeling ihat is Bhowing itself in favor of the imposition of a property and income tax. This is a far more important matter than P ovincialiatn or its abolition, for itny form of g.)vernnii nt, no matter whut, will be found to be intole able 8 > long as the wealthier anl gore-ning clnsses nre permitted to escapj contributing their just and fair share towards the large revenue that has now becom.' necessary to meet the heavy iiabilitifs they "have been tr.ainly instrumental in burdening the colony with. In alcition to the check a property and income tax would put on laod jobbing and many other evils tint have been referred to; it would also tend more than anything else to secure (.mount and economical government, because additional expenditure would then mean additional percentage of property aud income tax, instead of additional tax on such things us sug>r and tobacco, taxe« almost unielt by the wealthier, the propertied, and the goveini -g classes. I feel cure that there are many just and hoior>ble m n in these upper classes in New Zealand who are perfectly willing to discharge the responsibilities as well as to enjoy the privileges of their position, and I shall n t be surprised to see some such joining in the movement from a ten c of ju'tice, to their own pecunmy disadvantage; but on the other hind there are many more who will fight a«ain-t a pr. perty nnd income tax to the death, an i I feul sure that no such t x will be imposed unless there is a strong ou side pressure from the masses of the people to f rce it on the Legislature together with a corresponding ieduction in the Customs u'u.ies.— lam, &c, James Grove.