A Desired Outlook.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1720, 14 August 1885, Page 2

A Desired Outlook.

Vogel has proved a humbug of tho first water. He promised that he would largely reduce taxation and cause the colony to advance “by leaps and bounds,” Well, taxation has been increased instead of reduced. The wine and spirit, duties have been raised, and the property tax is likely to be increased to one penny in the £. Then the advance “by leaps and bounds ” has been in a backward direction. Anyhow, the revenue is falling off. For the first four months of the current year the revenue actually collected has fallen short of the estimate by no less than £70,000 on three items alone—Customs, stamps, and railway, or at tho rate of over £200,000 per annum. The falling off in other items of revenue brings up the deficiency to a fotal rate of over a quarter of a million for the year. How is this state of affairs to bo dealt with ? Prudence suggests a reduction in expenditure, Vogel, however, will probably postpone some liability by carrying thorn on to the future, and go in for additional borrowing. It is to be hoped that Parliament will interpose with a firm hand, and gat rid alike of Vogel and his ruinous schemes.