MR. FOWLDS' LAND TAX.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11202, 24 October 1899, Page 3

MR. FOWLDS' LAND TAX.

TO the EDITOR. Sir,— was surprised at the logic of the above gentleman at his meeting in Ponsonby on this question. Mr. Fowlds' idea is to give a free breakfast table and to charge a special land tax to cover the deficit. He says such a system would be fair. Now J. will put the case from a workingman's view. A is a working man in receipt of good wages, but ho always contrives to spend all his earnings from week to week. B is also a workingman in receipt of like amount of wages, but who lives carefully, and is able to put part of his earnings in the Savings Bank. In time he finds lie has sufficient to buy a piece of land, and builds a cottage and so makes somo provision for a rainy day. But mark the result, A goes free of taxation because ho has no land, but B, the thrifty man who ought to be encouraged, is, instead, taxed on his savings, and, mind you, B pays Is for his share and also Is 6d for A's share; there being more workingmcn in the position of A, therefore his share is greater than B. . Fellow workmen, look well into theso matters More recording your voles, and send men to Wellington who will pass only laws for the benefit of all.—l am, etc., A. E. SVER3. Ponsonby, October 19, 1899.