The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays. Thursday, January 28, 1892.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 2714, 28 January 1892, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays. Thursday, January 28, 1892.

People who have been led by Mr Buick to believe that the Government taxation policy will not oppress the small farmer, but will fall only on owners of large estates, will do wisely to study the declarations of Mr Walter Hill,| of Single Tax fame, on the same subject. Mr Hill and his party, it will be remembered, are among the chief supporters of the Ballance Ministry, and though the present policy is not moulded exactly according to their views, have supported it as being the thin edge of the wedge of the single tax on land, or, in other words, confiscation of landed property. In a letter in yesterday’s issue of the Woodville Examiner , Mr Hill admits having used the following illustration of the practical working of his scheme :—“ Take for example a piece of land which is to-day worth £IOO and suppose that tomorrow there is a tax imposed of five per cent on the capital value of land. What under the new conditions would that piece of land be worth F Only £95 ; and as rent has its market price like any other commodity it would be useless trying to raise the rent on a falling value.” Surely it must be plain enough that this large section of the Government party will have no

exemptions. When they find that the present scheme of taxation does not bring in the expected revenue, they will press it downwards until all land is taxed. Are our country settlers willing to'.wait for this consummation, or will they take timely action, by political organisation, to secure fair representation of their interests in Parliament. It is true that only the large landowner is immediately threatened, but every settler, whether his holding is large or small, will speedily find its value reduced by the general knowledge that all land is destined to bear the whole weight of taxation. Mr Hill makes his meaning quite clear on this point, in the following passages : —“lf they (Tories) will give thought to the matter and trace the source of that value known as ground rent, they will see that it is built up by the joint efforts and interests of the people, and bv the outlay of public monies in improvements. Also they will see that confiscation is in full swing now, viz., the mfise' b*

confiscation by one class of people who are owners of land ; of that wealth known as ground rent, which is the property of all the people. And seeing this, they will be convinced that the value created by the people should be collected by the State, and be again distributed in public works of utility and convenience for the people. “ [Render unto Caesar the things" which be Cseser’s.” Of course, if the Government appropriated ground rent for purposes of revenue, it would be instead of other taxation, not in addition to it, and were they to do so, a revenue of at least £3,000,000 per annum would be the result. This would enable us to sweep away Customs duties, propertytax, beer tax, and stamp duties (which comprises the whole of our general Government taxation), and have a million and a half to spare for public works, and part payment of interest on our National debt, which other incomes would not provide for. There is every reason to suppose that under such a system, in a very short time local rating would not be required ; that revenue for all purposes would be obtained from the same source.”

The Napier papers are now discussing the probable amount of new loan required for harbor works, a matter which Mr Swan has given notice of bringing before the next meeting of the Harbor Board. Mr Swan did not state what amount he proposed should be borrowed. If the Board only required £75,000, the amount of the flrst loan paid off, it could be reborrowed without another poll of the ratepayers. It is admitted on all hands, however, that a much larger sum will be required to make the work a success, and the country ratepayers will certainly desire that more light should be thrown on the subject before they consent to a larger sum being raised. It quite beside the question to argue whether Mr Goodall’s estimate of cost has or has not been borne out by results. On that point some Napier writers are floundering in figures in a manner which is really painful to an onlooker. The whole situation will have to be reconsidered, and the wisest course is to face it boldly. ~We have no doubt that, in view of the large amount already spent, the most economical plan will be to extend the works now in progress ; but that conclusion will have to be established by another report from an independant source, ignoring any previous designs and estimates as a guide.