The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1877.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 93, 8 June 1877, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1877.

It appears probable, that before the meeting of Parliament, a conference of delegates from the various municipalities will assemble for the purpose of deciding as to the combined action necessary to be taken, in consequence of the deductions on account of charitable aid, made by the Government from the subsidies payable to the municipalities. Where the conference will meet is at present undecided. The Christchurch City Council, from whom the idea emanated, proposed that the conference should assemble in Wellington, and they invited the whole of the municipalities in New Zealand to send delegates thereto. The Lyttelton Borough Council are of opinion that the conference should meet in Christchurch, and, that in the first instance the delegates should only be sent from those municipalities which are within the province of Canterbury. Whether the delegates meet in Christchurch or Wellington is of little moment ; but it is of importance that united action on the part of all the municipalities in the colony should be taken in this matter, —and that right speedily too, —in order that, if necessary, the interference of Parliament may be asked. The subsidies out of which these deductions have been made are supposed to consist of a pound for every pound raised by taxation within the respective Boroughs. The ratepayers were thus encouraged to tax themselves to the uttermost, in the hope of receiving from the Colonial Treasury a sum equal to the amount raised by taxation amongst themselves. At the time those subsidies were promised, not a word was said about any deductions being made on account of charitable aid, indeed, in the days of provincialism, provision was always made for that by a vote of the Provincial Council, It seems manifestly unfair then, that the Boroughs should now be called upon to pay for the relief of the destitute, when at the time the ratepayers were thus encouraged to tax themselves it was never contemplated by them that they would be also required to give largely from their subsidies for charitable purposes. Then, by the manner in which these deductions are made, by far the largest proportion contributed on account of charitable aid falls upon the Boroughs, the country districts getting off comparatively free. This, too, is not based on equitable principles, as it is well known that destitute persons will congregate at those places where charitable aid is dispensed, and thus the towns will be compelled to provide for those, the expense of whose maintenance should be borne by the whole country. It is unjust also, that the Boroughs should be made to contribute to a fund over the expenditure of which they have not the slightest control. The fact is, that it is a clever sleight-of-hand trick on the part of the Government for raising a revenue for a particular purpose. They, in effect, say to the ratepayers "tax your- " selves as heavily as you like for local " purposes, we will, by way of encourage- " ment, give you a pound for every pound "you thus raise by taxation." The ratepayers innocently enough snap at the glittering bait and then the Government turn round and say—" Very good, gentle- " men, you shall have the subsidies alter " we have deducted a certain amount re- " quired for charitable aid, for that, you " know, is a local purpose." Very clever this, but hardly honest.

Parliament is summoned to meet for despatch of business on the 19th of July. It is to be hoped, that before that time, the public will be put in possession of at least the outlines of two very important measures, which ministers must bring forward during the ensuing session. We allude to the Education Bill and the Bill to amend the Counties Act. If the ministerial work be in such a state of forwardness as has been asserted by the Government organ, there ought to be no difficulty in complying with this reasonable suggestion.