The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-08-10
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
A Successful Revolution in Taxation.

Of the Consular Reports will con-
tain an important article on the
subject of land taxation in New
Zealand. 1t is not generally known
in this country that New Zealand
has lately undergone political
revolution. But the referred to
article will not state what this rev
olution signifies, in all probability
much of the information furnished
by our foreign consuls is suppressed,
on the ground that its influence
may prove detrimental to the exist
ence of the two ruling parties OF
this country. However this may
be, we have obtained some equally
important facts from other reliable
sources, and publish them, not for
the purpose of exciting political
controversy, but solely for the
reason that there is no profit in
hiding ones head in the sand with
the idea that by so doing no one
else is aware of what is going on.
Consul Connolly says: 'In the
matter of taxation laws New Zea-
land eXcels as compared with the
other Australian colonies, and per-
haps with many older countries.
Here, at least, legislation has been
most violently assailed as being
experimental, socialistic, confsca-
tory, and impracticable. But re-
gardless of this terrible arraign-
ment, the taxation laws have been
fully and successfully established
and given practical effect, even
while other countries were theoriz-
ing on the same principles"
"The most determined opposition
to the new taxation came from the
moneyed institutions, loan COM
panies, and the owners of vast
landed estates.n 1t was found
however, as soon as the new SyS-
tenn became law and was thoroughly
established and fully understood,
"that instead of involving the col
ony in ruin, it had exactly the con-
trary effect.'' The credit of the
colony in London increased in an
unprecedented degree. New Iea-
lands credit is better today on the
London money market than is that
of any other colony of Australasia.
This pleasant position is not attrib-
utable to the new system of taxa
ton alone, although it may be
fairly said to have materially
assisted in establishing confidence
The non borrowing policy of the
present peoples party administra-
ton, and the general recuperative
powers of the colony, assisted in
restoring or rather creating the
most prosperous state of CONNER
cial and banking affairs ever known.
Another authority states: "In
1886 New Zealand's standing was
precarious. Through corrupt polit-
ical partizanship it had completely
lost its credit, and abroad and at
home, to all appearances, the Ma,
tion was bankrupt. The laboring
people alone retained confidence
that the natural resources of the
country would enable them, if they
could get rid of the old parties, tC
again establish a government on 8
stable and sound footing. So the
farmers and laboring people united
their interests, and through the
ballot defeated the corrupt parties
and placed their own men in power
They elected the head of the GOV
ernment, all the members of tn,
cabinet, and filled the legislature:
and congress with their own men,
This occurred four years ago
England and other English colonies
hearing of the change and that tn,
working classes had control of tn,
Government, made, through tn,
press, direful prophesies of New
Zealand's complete downfall anC
bankruptcy. The English bank
withdrew their capital, and tn
landed aristocracy sold their lands
as quick as they could and oppOr
tunity offered, and then left tn
country, feaing a reign of cOmmun
ism and anarchy.
Still another authority in com
menting on the present condition G
things compared with the reign c
the old parties says that the oil
. politicians are again striving