Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1902. TAXATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 7246, 29 August 1902, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1902. TAXATION.

One of the conditions inseparable from progress is " taxation," and people are just beginning to realise this, aud to wonder whether the strain will bo too great for them. By means of the Rating upon Unimproved Values, and by the new nose-to-tho-grindstono valuations, the Government have applied two lovers to the taxpayer which arc likely to make him " sit up." Those levers affect both local and general taxation. At the present time, residents in the town of Mastorton are beginning to realise what local taxation means; and, later in the year, increased demands under the land and inortgige tax will bring home to them the effects of a growing general taxation.

It is no figure of speech to say that taxation is jumping up by "leaps and bounds." In local rates, the man who last year paid five pounds has in some instances this year to pay ten pounds; and tho man who formerly paid ten pounds is now compelled to pay twenty. From one point of view this is bad finance; for increases in taxation—if increases be expedient—should be gradual, otherwise they become oppressive. We may, perhaps, now bo reaching the oppressive stage when peoplo begin to kick and grumble! From another point of view, extra taxation is useful, for it makes the taxpayers tako a keener interest in tho administration of public affairs than they otherwise would do.

When peoplo feel that a tax is no longer a tax —but a rental, they begin to resist; but, unfortunately, so much of tho general taxation is indirect that peoplo rarely know how much they are contributing. We believe that tho general expenditure of the Colony could be cut down by a million a year without sensibly impairing the olliciency of its public services; but, as yet, the New Zealand taxpayer docs not demand a rebate of a million a year, and he is a groat fool for not doing so. The time will come when expenditure will have to be cut down ! At present there is an all-round combination to increase it; and " extravagance " is no name for the superfluities in many Departments.