The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-26 00:00:00

OPPOSITION TO THE INCOME TAX.

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY MEETING.-.-.A. county
meeting was held on Saturday in the Town-hall, at
Ha►erfordwest, for the purpose of protesting
against the income and property tax. There were
very few persons present. The chair was filled by
Mr. L. Mathias, sheriff ; and the following resolu-
tion was passed :—" That for the property and
income tax to be imposed upon the country for the
support of the war more than one year after the
restoration of peace would be inconsistent with the
act of Parliament, and a breach of faith with the
public; and that a petition to this effect be drawn
up, and that the member for the county (Viscount
Etnlyn) be requested to present it to the House of
Commons."

MEETING AT Rim..—A public meeting has been
held in the Town-hall of Rhyl, to petition Parlia-
ment for a considerable modification, if not a total
abolition, of the income tax. Mr. James Napier,
of the Bank, was in the chair. Resolutions were
passed, to the effect that the mode of levying the
tax is so inquisitorial and fallacious that injustice
and dishonesty are the inevitable result, and that
if direct taxation be advisable means more in ac-
cordance with the principles of justice ought to be
devised. Many interesting cases were ettEA,
showing the unjust assessment of the tax ; and its
demoralising tendency, by inducing parties to
render false returns, was plainly exposed ; one
party alleging that he had been obliged to pay the
tax upon an anticipatory income, not having yet
realised the amount of the expenses he had in-
curred. A petition was numerously signed, to be
presented to the House of Commons by Sir John
Hanmer, Bart., M.P.
ARUNDEL.--At a meeting held on Friday, rela-
tive to the income tax, a letter was read from Lord
G. G. A. Howard, M.P., in which the following
passage occurs Any one would express my
sentiments by saying that, while I should regard
taxation as a subject not to be dealt with by ex-
citement or haste, yet that I wish much to see the
abolition, if possible, or at least a very great dimi-
nution, of the income tax. That if we are to have
further wars an income tax is necessary ; but I
trust not to have thither war, and I do sincerely
hope that we are not going hastily to spend British
blood and treasure on Persian soil, which I would
hope is the only present reason whereby the in-
come tax should be continued at anything like its
present rate."

TORQUAY.—Mr. Palk, M.P., speaking at a
meeting of the inhabitants, held on Thursday
evening, to memorialise the Queen for a modifica-
tion of the income tax, said :—" I believe that had
there been a due economy—nay, I will not even
say that—but that had there not been an undue
waste of public money, the income tax, which you
have so nobly and cheerfully submitted to up to
the present moment, would have been sufficient to
have paid for the expenses of the war, and that
you might have reverted this session to the state
you were in before the commencement of the war,
bearing in mind the pledge of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, that in 1860 the income tax was finally
to be dispensed with. However, I believe it is
well known to you all, that there was no such eco-
nomy practised by the Government ; and I very
much doubt whether you will hear anything from
the Crown to lead you to believe that this income
tax will be done without. I do not believe that
Government will take advantage of the quibble
which would enable them to maintain the 9d. in
the pound for another year ; but I do not believe
the Chancellor of the Exchequer will have to appeal
to the patriotism of the country, and ask them to
renew that 9d. for another year."