The original motion was then put, and carried by a still larger majority. The Mayor declared the resolution carried by a very large majority indeed. [Cheers.] Mr Matthews then came forward, and moved—"That this meeting is of opinion that a land and income tax is more suitable to meet the requirements of the present de ficiency than tiie Property Tax Act." He said that they should tax these large proprietors at so much per acre. Let them tax their Native lands and their Crown lands. Should they tax an in dustry Buch as that established after years of hard labor by Mr John Anderson. [" No, no. "J Dr. Frankiah had said that the work ing men would not be taxed. He said they i would. |Dr Frankish— *'How ?"] The! tradesman who was taxed for the goods on his shelves must recoup himself, and it would be levied on the consumer, the"working man. [Cheers.] What had brought the country to its present state ? Why, absenteeism. There was a very large proprietor passing through Christchurch the other day (LordLyttelton); did he pay a shilling ? He said no. Then, again, there were over 11,000 Civil servants. Let them get, rid of the drones and hangers on and impose a land tax, so as to get at the large landed proprietors. [Cheers.] The beer tax was one which would cripple local industries. [" No, no."] The poor man was as willing to pay his taxes as the rich man. [Dr. FrankUh—"They don't have to pay them under this Act."] He asked the meet ing to approve of the principle of his resolu tion, which v%b the introduction [of a land and income tTX.
