. The approach of the Budget has produced a most
vehement attack on our present system of taxation from the Times, both in a leading article and in an article "from a correspondent" entitled "The Reform of Taxation." The contention of the Times writers is that our present fiscal system is bad because the sources of Imperial taxation are too few,—because, that is, instead of fidgeting and worrying the-taxpayers and trades at every turn, we have a few taxes yielding very large sums. We entirely dissent from the Times view, and believe that the old maxim that we ought not to levy a tax unless it will pro- duce a large sum is perfectly Sound. If not; we may soon reach the condition of things under which three-quarters of the produce of a tax will be spent in collecting it. In the course of his protest against relying on a few big taxes, the corre- spondent of the Times creates a really magnificent paradox. He tells us that in his belief "a man with 25,000 a year probably -has a harder struggle to make ends meet and maintain his poor relations and dependents, as well as keep up his - subscriptions which are all incidental to a certain position, than has the man with a -pound or 30s. a week." Will not Mr. Phil May or Mr. Gould give us a picture of the benevolent stonemason on 30s. a week watching a haggard and careworn creature with £5,000 a year driving by in his carriage and pair:—" Pore beggar, it's a 'ard struggle, but 'e don't take it satin'; not 'e; 'e stands up to 'is troubles like a man, and I 'onours 'im for it " ?
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