UNKNOWN
SATURDAY, J'KBIU'ARY 8, 1873.
It is gratifying to find that the people of Auckland, if tlioy are iiot capable of seeing the^advantage, of education — or rather, the only means open for its attainment at the present times- -they are at least aware of the fact (hat tho d<|,y is not far distant when an Income or Propei ty Tax must bo imposed. One of our morning 1 contemporaries, (he D. S. Ctosi, lias made itself heard on the subject , this journal is the exponent of ministen.il opinions, and the supporter of ministerial acts We trust that in this instauco it has not spoken without having previously repeived "1 he Vogelian wink," or something more tangible. An income-tax, as regards England, first originated with the great statesman Mr Pitt, v»ho advocated its imposition to meet the financial requirements of a nation con. ducting a great war. It was afterwaids introduced by Sir Robeit Peel to meet a yearly deficiency of income, and he distinctly stated that it was only a temporary measure. He argued that its infliction would, by reducing indirect taxation, give a spurt to the commerce of the country that would much more than counterbalance the deterrent influence that every tax must have on its progress and prosperity, and that — to use a homely phrase — when he had made both ends meet, he would advocate its abplition. Are we not in exactly the position of England at that time, inasmuch that our expenditure exceeds our revenue. The effect of deriving income from a tax on profits in business, or from funds derived from invested cipital was, in the case pf England, moat satisfactory. The prosperity of all classes was increased ; the wording man — or he of small means — was no longer trammelled by the payment of grinding taxation; he could save a little, or procure greater comforts than he had been accustomed to. lie could do this, for the simple reason that in place of the class to which he belonged beariug the gi eater proportion of the burden of taxation, the drone in the hive (the man of capital), contributed his quota ; the merchant in propeas of amassing a fortune, also bore his proportioned the working man — we use the term for want of a better — paid his. Taxation was pretty equally distributed, so that no plass was unduly depressed. This is not the case at the present moment in this colony ; the men who are earning their bread by tho sweat of their brows, or their intellects as the case may be, arc paying more than two thirds of the inducct taxation of the country. The capitalists and the merchants, who live on the intellectual or manual labour of others, are comparatively free. The latter sell tea, tobacco, and sugar, but they do not pay the tax ; they fiv an arbitary percentage as profit, and unless they can procure it they refuse to sell. It matters little to them whether the people have to pay a large or small price for the necessaries of life, except that if the goods were cheaper more would be bought and sold, and doubtlpss from their doing a larger business they would more than recover the income-tax they would have to pay. Another reason for having an income-tax is that were such a tax in existence the representatives of the people and those who have influence in high places would be directly interested in keeping ou v expenditure within reasonable limits. It is difficult to make the man of capital and he of trade to see that by imposing restrictions on the men who by their industry support them, they are damaging their own interests. Our contemporary points out that the imposition of an income-tax would have the effect of gettiug at absentee landlords, men who live in other countries and draw a yearly income from New Zealand to support them in affluence, without contributing one farthing to the revenue. They do suffer to a small extent (indirectly), as were the taxation less the man who pays rent would bo able to pay more. We trust that our House of Representatives will eie long be composed of men with sufficient, honesty we were going to say, but the term, however, beiug rather strong, we will substitute self-abnegation — to pass an income-tax. Our taxation is yearly increasing, our resources are perhaps keeping pace ; hut wo feel confident that the latter would soon exceed the former weio taxation equally distributed.
The Right Rev crcud the Bishop u ill conduct divine sorvice and preach to morrow in the Xgaruaw.ihia church. Rcwi is reported to have stated that ho is in possession of auriferous bj-onp from the Tuhua country, and that they resemble and equal in riehuess any thot lie (Rcwi) had seen from the Thames. A meeting of tho members of the Church of England at Ngaruawulua was held last evening, tho Rjv J C. Lloyd in in the cb.ur. A balance sheet showing a credit balance of £3 18s 3d. was adoptod. The Churchwardens for tho past year resigned. A vote- of thank* was unanimously passed to Mr Jones, Mr Nicholls, and tho other members of tho choir for thoir kind aisistauco ; and also to lira licnn.y, whq presided at the harmonium, during the niutci'. Mr Bjron moved, "That iii the opinion ef the meeting it is inexpedient at tho present time to form this district into a parish, but that the ultimate decision on this point should bo left to tho Churchwardens for tho tiw.o beiug." Thomo^cr read a letter from Mb Seddon.of llamilton> asking the members of tho Church of England to form thorn • selves mto a parish inoonjun.ction. with Hamilton. An amendment was moved to the resolution and lost. The original motion was eventually passed with tho addition of tho words " after referring to a general meeting!" A resolution was thon passed " This meeting it of opinion, that if land is not already sot apart for a burial ground for this district, that tho two Boat'dd should jointly apply to the Government for a site on v, lijoU t-Q establish «, cemetery, and that it is desirable that this should be donp as 6pcudi[y |w possibly as to continur burning in the church -yard is calculated to injuriously affuot tho heulth of the inhabitant". The Chairman, on behalf Of the meeting, csprcssod his thinks [o the outgoing Churokwardens. Mr Byron acknow lodgod. Tho following were lectcd a committee to, manage the affairs of tho church during the present 3 car: — Mr Rayncr, (appoieted by the Rev J. C. L'oyd) ; Messrs Bjron an^ Hubert, elected by tho .inpeting. Cordial votcj of thanks were passed to tho Rjrds J. C. Llojd, nnd B. Y. Ashuoll, for tho kind and able umnocr thej bare performed the duties that ha\ c dv\ oh cd upcu ihnai. llit uieotni'4 thcu sepuiatcd.
Gaa will be laid on in the sti cuts of Gi.ih.i'nstuwn within a nnnth, the works being nearly completed. An act of incendiarism was attempted on Tupgdr>yni<;ht, Auckland. The hoiuo was U'ueopi 'd, and just approach ing completion. The would be perpetrator escaped. ll'B Honor the^Superiutcndent, in puruuanee of the 4th section of the Sheep Act 18G3 Amendment Act 1371, has fixed 6d as the charge to be paid by the owners of sheep in respect of qny examination, held under the provisions of the said Act. The Uttje girl who was burnt the other day has unfortuiutely succumbed to the injuries received. An inquest was held on the body on Monday at the Nottingham Castle, Abcrcionjbie Streot, wh.en the jury returned a veidict of accidental death, and imputed blame on the deceased's inqther for her neglect m leaving so young a child alone in the house. The man Carrol, who committed the criminal assault upon a little girl, the daughter Mrs Kuox, it appears is feigning m,adi}css. At the culmination at the Police Court on Tuesday he assumed an idiotic appearance, and kept muttering I duping the proceedings. He had, however, been detected the. prcMOiis oemng carrying on a perfectly sane conversation with his daughter, who had been admitted into the cells. The poor little child, the lictiin of his cruelty, is in a very bad state of health, and fears of her recovery arc entertained The Bench, after hearing fie evidence with closed doors committed Carrol for trial at tlje Supreme Court. We learn that it is pioposed by His Excellency the Governor to visit Ngaruawahia before hia depaituie fioin tae colony. The visit \s for the purpose of meetjn.; the natives befoie he leaves. We havo been unable to ascertain the date settlod upon for the meeting, but believo it will take place shortly, as the natives have been warned that the meeting will be held. This would be a good oppoitumty for tiie King or s.ome of his representatives to interview His Excellency. We understand that Itewi [ lias expi csscd a wish that a meeting should take place, and says that there is no chance of settling difficulties unless Tawlnao and the Governor meet face to face. We trust that no dignity will be saciificed by the Government. The Governor and Mr McLean have already visited this district for the purpoae of meeting " His Majesty." It ia now time for lam to take a little extra trouble if ho wishes to meet the representative of Her Majesty. We understand that the Native Minister will accompany His Excellency. If the expressed desire to come to definite terms is sincere, now is the oppoitunity to prove it. During the debate on Mr Stafford's no-confidenco resolutions last session (says the Independent) , Mr Calder was one of the loudest denunciators of the Govcrement, and of their administration of the public works. In his remarks upon the contract with Messrs Brogden for the Clutha railway, Mr Calder was particularly strong in the. matter of sleepers. He had already launched a general charge against the Government that the prices they had accepted were excessive, and he proceeded then to refer to some of the details. This is what he said upon the subject of sleepers :—": — " I might go nto some particulars to show that the prices are really excessive. For instance, the sleepers are put down at three shillings, and there is another item for carriage. I do not know whether it is for carriage of thk sleepers, bnt if it is, it runs tho sleepers up to 3s 7d ; and I undertake to say Ihot the sleepers for that line can begot at the very outside from 2s to 2s 6d." Mr Calder's words were echoed by other honorable members, and were possibly credited by tho outside members, but it is rather a strange contradiction that the first contract for sleepers which tho Government have submitted to public competition, has been taken by tho firm of which Mr Calder is a member at not "from 2s to 2s 6d," but nt 3i 4Jd! Wo do not for a moment suppose that this latter price is unreasonable. Messrs Calder and Blaekwood's tender was the lowest, and it may be presumed that the sum is not excenh c, but it is rather amusing to find Mr Calder, whe considered 3s as a " very excess ue " price when given to Messrs Brogden, asking -lid a sleeper more himself. This is another illustration of the careless and reckless misstatements which distinguished Mr Stafford's pnrty last session. One bv one the falsity of the accusations ngamst the then Government is being exposed, and this matter of the sleepers is the most recent. By the way ; the House should by rights find itself deprived of the seniees of Mr Calder ncit session. The Disqualification Act prevents members from holding seats m the House who aic directly or mdi rectly interested in contracts with the Government, and we should imagine that a contract for 100,000 sleepers at 3s lid each will suffice to vitiate Mr Calder's seat. We don't know who is supposed to take up matters of this kind on behalf of the House, but we should fancy that Mr Speaker might very" properly ascectain how the facts stand, and act accordingly. President Grant, in delivering his fourth annual messago to the Senate and House of Representatives at Washington on December 2 said — " Your favourable consideration is respectfully invited to the recommendation made by the Post* master-General for a subsidy inside of the establishment of an American lino of steamers betw een San Francisco, New Zealand, and Australia." This is an important fuct to New Zealand. With the President's recommendation and the Senate's like advocacy, it is likely the American Congress will assent, and thus we shall secure goqd and efficient bjats, and the route will become firmly established because it will be serviceable.
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Bibliographic details
Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 119, 8 February 1873, Page 2
Word Count
2,133UNKNOWN Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 119, 8 February 1873, Page 2
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