THE UNJUST TAXATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8670, 12 September 1891, Page 3

THE UNJUST TAXATION.

TO THIS EDITOR. Sir,—ln concluding an able and timely leading article in your issue of the 7th instant, criticising the main features of the new forms of taxation sought to be brought about by the present Government, you very pointedly make the inquiry: "Is it not time that the bona fide settlers of the colony, in town and country, should combine to stop the mischief ere it is too late " Sir, I think it is time that something be done, if we who are interested in the future of this colony have any desire whatsoever to prevent it becoming completely maimed, The present Government, from the policy which they seem intent upon adopting, are commencing a career which can have but one effect, viz., to make it impossible for anyone to living in the country. There is no disguising the fact that population is leaving our shores as fast as it can, and will continue to do so so long as capital is kept out of the country. The landtax proposals of the Government are of such an unjust character that it will be useless for us "to expect any progress in settlement. All the large estates _ >vhich are now being improved and brought into cultivation, mainly, if not altogether by the expenditure of foreign capital, with the hope that in the future some return for the large outlay now going on will be obtained, cannot continue to go on if for every additional sheep per acre which they are enabled to carry, fresh burdens are to be imposed. There are many instances of this 111 the Waikato and Pinto counties which I could mention, where immense sums of English capital are being yearly expended, but which, if handed over to the tonder mercies of our present Legislature would very soon have to be abandoned, and the labourers now employed upon them would have to follow those who have already left the country, for want of employment._ I am surprised that as yet no action is being taken that I am aware of by what may be termed the Conservative section of the community, to counteract the tendency of the legislation of the present Parliament, and my object in writing is to suggest that sometiling be done in this direction. I think, sir, that the time has come when meetings should he held from the North to the South of Mew Zealand, and that an association, to be called, say, the " Conservative Association of New Zealand," with Wellington as the centre of its operations, and having branches in all the principal towns of the colony, should be formed, the object of the Association to be simply to watch,the interests of the bona Jlde settler. To carry out its object no time should be lost in making a move. An organising secretary should be immediately engaged, whose duty it would be to travel over the colony and get the _ machinery of the Association into active operation; and it should be one of the first duties of the Association, when so formed, to prepare the way that when the next general election shall come round, or any byelection take place, a candidate pledged to support the objects of the Association shall be nominated for every constituency in the country. The means for carrying out this idea would I feel sure very soon be forthcoming, and unless we wish to see the whole government -of the country handed over to the Trades and Labour Councils the sooner something like united action be taken the better it will for the community.—l am, etc., Henry Bottle. Ohaupo, September 9,1591. t1... ■ ' . -i , f< - ; -