The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1125, 26 November 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1879.

It is possible, as the saying goes, to drive a coach and four through the new tax proposals of the Government. The dullest intellect mast be sufficiently perspicuous to see that the suggested Property Tax is not the beat thing that coukl be adopted as a means of relieving the Colony of its financial embarrassment. In the manner of a homicide who endeavors to make his operations pleasant by chopping off Ins victim's head instead of making an incision in bis throat, Major Atkinson substitutes a Property Tax for an Income Tax. He would not think of asking the Colony to agree to anything so inquisitorial as the latter. Oh, no. He merely introduces a measure which insists that every tradesman and merchant shall throw open hi 3 book* and lay bare his transactions; that will, so far a3 we can at present see, levy a tax upon local mortgagees, whilst foreign mortgagees will go scot free ; that taxes alike real and personal property ; that places additional burthens on those articles that have already paid a considerable quota to the Customs revenue, and, in fact, a tax upon the Customs tax that has been paid on snch articles. Such an injustice to tradesmenastliishasnever before been heard of in thehistoryof this Colony. Major Atkinson asserts that what he proposes is the only thing that can extricate the Colony out of its difficulties. We do not believe it. There are other means, and if they are not known to the Treasurer, he had better make way for another. The Duncdin Chamber of Commerce have decided against bis proposals. True, Messrs. Ramsay and Cargill said that they preferred a Property Tax to a Land Tax, as being fairer in principle ; 1 but, seeing that it doubles the rate to be paid open land, we fail to understand in what respect it is fairer, for the increased rate will have to be paid indirectly or directly by the owner, according as his property is encumbered or unencumbered. If the mortgagee has to pay it, he will in turn extract it from the pocket of the mortgagor. The Chamber suggests the continuance of the Land Tax, and the levying of school fees. They have found a key that wiil unlock the door of our prison and set U3 free, jjat we would suggest an Education Tax. Some say that anEJucation Tax wouldpress heavily on the poor classes, others that it would do an injustice to the rich man, who would not send his children to the Government schools. But the fact is ii would do neither. If a man refuses to avail himself of the Government schools, and is wealthy enough to 3end his children to a private school, he should pay such a tax. He would only be contributing directly instead of indirectly towards the expense of improving the intelligence and the morals of those with whom he and his children would bebrought into contact,and to make them good citizens of the world. As to the poor man. If he is unable to pay a pound or so per annum, and can prove it, he should be exempt. But there are few such in the Colony. There are thousands who willingly pay much larger suras to indulge their appetites for strong drink and tobacco. We are all paupers when the tax-gatherer threatens us with a raid—we may all more or les3 be paupers in sttch an abnormally impecunious condition as that under which the Colony is now suffering ; but in the normal state of the Colony there is not a man in it who could not pay such a tax as th.it suggested. The Land Tax would yietd aay Ll-10,000, and the tax for education about L 200,000. From these two sources, with the aid of additional oustoraa duties and economy, we should be abtc to make both ends meet in future., whilst we should pull up arrears by paying old liabilities out of the Land Fund.

The patriotic tax oa tobacco will press heavily on smokers. It amounts to 3s Gd per lb., and, as an ordinary smoker manages tr> puff away about thirteen pounds j>er year, he will ntulcr the new arrangement contribute to the revenue on thi3 one article no less a sirm than L2 sa6<l during thatporiod. Then, again, it may appear very absurd to say it. but the dntv on matefce* will cause an additional drain upon liia resources. A box of matches that we wiil say will last about a week, and which, while the old tariff was in vosoc, cost him threepence, will now cost nearly fonrpencc, or he will have to pay threepence for a smaller box, which comes to th® same thing. Tlie duty on this one Ijox weekly will amount to about three farthings. In the year, therefore, he will snpptement his contribution to the revenue for the gratification of his pet habit by the sum of 3s tkl, making a total of L2 9s. Mr W. J- -Steward has been gazetted a J.P. Mails for the Australian Colonies and Tasmania, per Riogarooma, clo3e at the Blnff at 11.30 a.m. on Friday.

The Port Darwin land line is interrupted north of Charlotte Waters. Early restoration ts expected. The members of the Philharmonic Society will meet for practice this evening at St. Andrew's Hall, above Mr. Taylor's shop. A full attendance is particularly desired. The fortnightly meeting pf the Municipal Council will be held to-morrow evening.

A meeting of the Committee of the Oamaru Jockey Clnb was held last evening at the Empire Hotel. Mr. J. Moss occupied the chair. It was resolved to call for tenders for the privileges in connection with the forthcoming race meeting. Messrs. F. W. O. Grant, Greenfield, J. Hardy, and Shaldcrs were appointed a Ground Committee to make all necessary arrangements with regard to tic eoarßC. Some business of a routine nature having been transacted, the meeting terminated.

A Mr. John has made a claim against the Dnnafin City Council of L 50,000 for compensation for lands taken from the Femhill Cofnpany*S leasehold for the Silverstream watercourse. Singular to relate, although this is being done by Alves, that gentleman "does not do things by 'Alves." This evening 'the Om Burlesque and Comedy Company will a performance at the Volunteer Hail, theoomedy of "Checkmate," a •' .Musical Portfolio," and the farce of a "'Kiss in the dark." Had we not read the criticisms from l>oth the North and South, the names of those cotnjKjsing the company would have been sufficient to convince us that a capital evening's amusement will be presented. The visit to Oamaru of a dramatic coinpauy ife of so rare occurrence that we anticipate seeing the hall well filled, if not crowded. ...