The times., 1901-06-16
Circulation Statement.
War Taxes in south Africa

j
ommending that the Transvaal and the
Orange River Colony be required to as
sumo a considerable portion OF the
financial burden imposed by the Boer
war. brings up curious phase OF the
South African situation, and has
suggestive bearing upon the causes
which led to the conflict.
1t is very generally understood that
Englands diplomatic interference with
the internal affairs Of the Transvaal
was based upon the alleged grievances
of British subjects residing in that
country. The complaint of these peo-
pie was that they were compelled to
pay the major part of the taxes and al
the same time were denied any voice
in the Government. The Boer answer
was that these Uitlanders, or foreign
ers. paid the bulk Of the taxes because
they owned the bulk of the valuable
property and that they could have
voice and d vote by complying with
the naturalization laws Of the country
Whatever may be thought Of the rela-
tive merits Of these opposing pleas, the
fact is undisputed that the Uitlanders.
dissatisfied with the Boer Government,
sought the interference Of Great Britain
in order to obtain relief frCm what they
claimed TO be an unjust and unequal
burden of taxation.
Now it appears that this burden is
very likely to be increased as a result
of the war Under the proposed plan
these two colonies must now not only
meet the expenses Of their local govern
ments. but they will be required to
make heavy contributions toward the
payment Of the war debt contracted by
Great Britain. Sir David Barbour pro-
poses a tax of ten per cent on the
profits of the mines. against five per
cent imposed by the Government of
Dom Paul This. he claims, viii still
leave the mine owners better off than
they were. because Of the removal of
the dynamite duties. which amounted
to six hundred thousand pounds ster-
ling, while the new taxes, he estimates,
will only amount to four hundred and
fifty thousand pounds.
But this does not state the entire
case. It must be considered that under
the new regime the war tax" is only
d part Of the burden that the Uit.anders
will have to bear. The expenses Of the
local government must also be met.
Formerly the taxation was for the sup
port of the local governments alone.
Now. not only must the colonial gov
ernments be provided for, but heavy
contributions must be made toward the
expenses that England has incurred in
the war.
In this connection it should be re-
membered that the property OF the
Boers themselves, always relatively
inconsequeutial. has been still further
reduced by the devastation Of the war,
so that when the mines are once more
in full blast it is likely that they and
the other properties Of the Uitlanders
will have TO bear a much larger pro-
portion of the local expenses than for
merly It looks like veritable case
of King Log and King Stork-or out
of the frying pan into the fire.
The mine owners in that region will
find little comfort in the situation as it
seems likely to develop. Even the Eng
Iish Uitlanders. with their natural pre-
dilection for the British Government,
will no doubt do considerable grum-
bling, while the French, German, and
other foreigners win be positively en-
bittered. 1t win be seen also that the
Barbour plan involves taxation without
representation in a most obnoxious
Eorm-in the identical form which pro-
voked the American Revolution.
mains 10 be seen: but in any event it is /
In the highest degree probable that
come scheme viii be devised TO throw
q part Of the war expense upon these
new British colonies