THE LAND TAX.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6750, 3 February 1892, Page 2

THE LAND TAX.

[to THB EDXTOE.I Sib,—Kindly permit me space for a few words on the laud tax as it strikes at least one practical farmer. In the first place the Government now in office depend mainly for its existence on the support of the town trades and labour organisations, and these bodies, whatever they profess, I look upon as very doubtful friends of the agricultural population. Their object is to throw the burden of taxation on the land. Most of us. farmers have no particular objection to seeing the big estates taxed more heavily than they have been in the past, for hitherto they have not borne their fair share of the burden. But after the big estates are burst up, I am inclined to think that the town constituencies will have no scruple about transferring the tax to the shoulders of the small holders. Then ogain, this bursting up policy is frightening capital out of the country wholesale, and it stands to reason, that if the supply of lending capital is diminished the rate of interest will go up. Most farmers work more or loss with borrowed money, and when the small holder finds himself sweating under the burden of an increased rate of interest, it will be little consolation to him to reflect that his big neighbour has been ruined. That is how it strikes mo anyhow. An all round increase of only 1 per cent, in the rate of interest throughout the colony means that £300,000 annually will be drawn from the cultivation of land, the employment of farm labour, &c, and safely deposited in the pockets of the money lender. The sum of £300,000 would furnish employment fer 3000 farm labourers at good wages the year round. Ts it better that this amount should be spent in the employment of labour, or that it should go to fatten the money lender ? It is not a hard question to answer. , I am, &c, Faemeb.