CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 128, 29 May 1880, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE PKOPBRTY TAX. To the Editor op the "Evening Mail." Sir — The forms for returns under the Property Tax, Act are in circulation, and mu3t be filled up shortly. It is fairly enough enacted that all legal liabilities may be deducted from the amount to be assessed. I say "maybe," for Mr Crombie in his{very peculiar Guide points out that it is unnecessary to do bo, in fact seems to suggest the omission. There is one liability which may not occur to everyone, and that is children.

, _ ( The charge for the maintenance of a child under age U as much a liability on the parent's property as any encumbrance. It is as real a liability as a debt to a butcher or baker. The debt, if not paid, would be recovered under judgment of a Court of Law, and the maintenance of a child, if neglected or refused by the parent, would be enforced by an order of the Court. Surely the one should be as fairly a set off as the other. In fact more so. It is not to the public advantage to encourage indebtedness} it is the interest and policy of the State to protriote an increase to the population, especially of a class which will not cry out shortly for eniployajent on public works. Even Under a JRoman despotism . there was the jus tnum liberorum, " the privilege of the parent of three children." Our paternal Government may well recognize something similar to this. A claim made by one or two persons only is likely to be ignored. One advanced by many, especially if founded in justice, has some chance of being successful.—l am, &c, ' A FatheS.