The Land Tax Proposals.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 6, Issue 565, 27 November 1891, Page 2

The Land Tax Proposals.

The Opposition, through their supporters in the Press, speak plainly on this subject. In a leader on these proposals, the Napier Telegraph says : —“ A question that is being constantly asked us is, • Do you think that the Government really will levy the land and income tax ?' We cannot pretend to give an answer. The Premier is so wonderfully inconsistent that no one can say what his intentions may be. When Mr Ballance was Native Minister in the StoutVogel Government, it will ho remembered ho was so positive his Native. Land Administration Act, 1880, would cure all ills to which the Maori question was heir, that lie pushed it through Parliament, as it may be said, at the point of the sword. Everyone acquainted with the difficulties besetting native land affairs, and with the Maori character, assured Mr Ballance that his Act would be inoperative, that the Maoris would not dispose of an acre of land under its provisions, and that he had better withdraw it. Everyone who thus advised him was looked upon as little hotter than a criminal, whose desire was to fatten on the existing unsatisfactory state of tho law. All the Ministerial papers combined to laud tho Act and its author, as being the first real effort to overcome the difficulty. What was the consequence ? For two years the alienation of tho Maori title ceased, not an acre was Acquired, settlement was obstructed, and Mr Ballancc’s absolute ignorance of the character of the Maoris became the laughing stock of the colony. Then the Act was repealed. So it will be seen that while in some things Mr Ballance can bo twisted round the little lingers of such organisations as Trades Unions, Knights of Labor, and Lumper's Associations, in matters of the highest moment to the colony he will take no advice from anyone competent to give it. In tho matter of tho land and income tax, lie hasbeeu warned by the highest financial authorities that its incidence will he disastrous; but he lias only laughed at their fears, or made fun of them to catch the applause of people who never had any money to lose.”