The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-08-10
of New Zealand amongst themselves

OF New Ledldnu amongst themselves
and their friends. Then one could
ride mile after mile through lovely
properties, and as far as the eye
could reach all belonged to the big
landlords"
Under the old Administration
the lands were largely held by an
aristocracy, similar to all English
practices, and these landlords in
many cases resided in England
where they expended the fruits of
the toll of their New Zealand ten
ants. All this has now been
changed by the new Government.
The lands of the absent landlords
were taxed 20 per cent in excess OF
those of resident landlords, which
obliged their sale, and now pretty
much all of these big estates have
been subdivided through forced tax
sales and are now owned by the
tillers themselves.
The 'labor peers" of New Zea-
land are now the social satire of the
London House of Lords, Gone is a
boiler-maker, another storeman,"
many are small farmers, but as one
resident enthusiast says They are
all fine fellows, men of intellect,
and they honor the position more
than it hOnors Them" The last
session of the Legislature gave
women all political privileges, and
in the next general elections they
will exercise their new franchise.
A business man writing from
that country says '"The Govern
ment of which it was said that it
uever could succeed, never could
exist, not only stands, but is now
the model government of the
world"
Regarding results Under the
old Administration in 1886 the eX-
ports were $4,000, 900; under the
new, in 1890, these exports increas-
ed to 81, 100000. In 1891 and
1892 the exports reached a much
larger sum. Under the old Gov
ernment-1SS5-the exports of
dried fruit were 100000 pounds.
Under the new in 1892, 100000
pounds. The manufacturing in
terests have multiplied in the same
ratio, as it was found that when the
farmers flOurished they bought
heavily of the manufacturers. The
factories for 1892 number 2,570,
with products of $47, 100000 an
nually. And what is yitally i'm
portant for capitalists to consider,
the credit of the country stands the
highest in its record, higher than
any other of the British colonies.
England now continually offers
capital, but it is always refused.
The New Government began by
retrenching expenditures one third,
and imposed taxes to meet eXpen-
ditures which the older parties
said, "never would meet the needs
of administration Yet these
prophets were wrong, for the in
come of the present Government is
considerably larger than the old.
In 1892 the surplus over expendi-
ture was $1,000, 900, while all the
other Australian colonies had
deficits.
Before the New Government went
into power, the taxes were levied
somewhat after the manner of those
in this country that is, on real
estate and on personal property.
But the new Administrator nave
abolished these taxes, and in their
place introduced a graduated land
tax, from which all Improvements
are deducted ; but the owner is not
allowed to make any deductions fol
mortgages owing by him, and he
has not to include in his returns
any mortgages owing to him. This
tax is not imposed on any owner
the value of whose land, less the
Improvements thereon, does not
exceed $25, 900, and the lowest rate
imposed is one eighth of a penny il
the pound sterling. This rate grad
ually rises until it reaches 2 pence
in the pound on the improved value
of lands up to 81, ,05O,0O0 or more.
In making assessments the new
laws are remarkably fair, in thar
they oblige the Government to buy
at the figure the owner puts OF