The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 14.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 190, 14 May 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 14.

The next session of the General Assembly may be expected to commence in about a couple of months from this date. It is self-evident that most important questions will come before it for decision. During last session, the Atkinson Government Avero ousted from office, not so much on any ground of principle, but as being convicted of personal incompetence and mismanagement in the conduct of public affairs. Since then, however, several distinct issues on broad matters of principle have been raised by the present Premier, and, as we pointed out a short time ago, their settlement cannot be any longer shirked or delayed. Ministers have spent so much time in stumping the country that we fear they will hardly have leisure to mature the measures which they have promised to introduce. These measures are of a most important nature, and may be expected to evoke considerable discussion and opposition. First comes tbe question of the franchise. We place this first because it influences all future legislation. Sir George Grey has announced himself the champion of manhood suffrage, with the sole limitation of residence for a certain period in one locality. This question of suffrage

is one fraught with considerable difficulty. In theory, it is no doubt desired on all sides that everyone fit to form an intelligent opinion on public matters should have a right to a voice in;the, direction of affairs. The difficulty consists in drawing a line which shall include, as far as possible, all worthy and eliminate all unworthy aspirants ;for the privilege. A property qualification has long ceased to be regarded as a fitting test, and has consequently been abandoned. As yet in New Zealand a household qualification has been demanded. It is difficult to see that one man who occupies a whare valued at £5 a year should necessarily be an intelligent elector, and another, whose convenience it suits to reside under the roof of a friend or lodging-hoUse keeper, should, ipso facto, be deemed unworthy of the privilege. In a neighboring colony a condition is made, which we venture to think is worthy of attention. Every voter has to sign his name at the polling booth, not stating thereby for whom he votes, but simply authenticating his identity. This provision has a double effect. Primarily it renders personation and double voting far more difficult to achieve, and easier to detect; and, secondarily, it establishes to a certain extent an educational test, in that a man who claims to exercise his electoral right must be able to write his name.

Another matter which will claim the earnest attention of our legislators is the distribution of taxation. All writers on political economy are agreed • not only that taxation should be kept as low as possible, but that it should be distributed equally, i.e., according to the means of paying which each indivividual in tbe community possesses. John Stuart Mill says, on this head • —" For what reason ought equality to be the rule in matters of taxation ? For the reason that it ought to be so in all affairs of government. As a government ought to make no distinction of persons or classes in the strength of their claims on it, whatever sacrifices it requires from them should be made to bear as nearly as possible with the same pressure upon all ; which, it must be observed, is the mode by which least sacrifice is occask nod on the whole. If any one bears less than his fair share of the burthen, some other person must suffer more than his share, and the alleviation to the one is not, on the average, so great a good to him as the increased pressure upon the other is an evil. Equality of taxation, therefore, as a maxim of politics, means equality of sacrifice. It means apportioning the contribution of each, person towards the expenses of Government, so that he shall feel neither more nor less inconvenience from his share of the payment than every other person experiences from his. This standard, like other standards of perfection, cannot be completely realised, but the first object in every practical discussion should be to know what perfection is.' 5 We think it will hardly be denied that in New Zealand scarcely any attempt has been made to equalise public burdens in the manner here indicated. Our Customs tariff, from which the great bulk of our revenue is drawn, acts very much in the nature of a poll tax, and compels a man to pay, not in proportion to his means, but in proportion to the number of mouths dependent on him for support. This will generally be in exact inverse ratio to the funds which are at his disposal, in that the man who has undertaken the responsibilities of a family must necessarily have loss surplus cash than the single man. There is no way out of the difficulty, no means of providing for a more equitable distribution of taxation, but by compelling property, as such, to bear that share of the public burdens which it has hitherto escaped.

There are other items of reform promised by the Premier on which our space does not permit us to touch, but no doubt the two we have mentioned will evoke considerable opposition. It is more than probable that an appeal to the country on them will be necessary, and it is, therefore, well that electors should make up their minds to give no uncertain verdict when the time comes for them to speak out.

Some recent articles, editorial and otherwise, which have lately appeared in this journal, have given serious offence in certain quarters, and we regret that this should be so, as nothing was farther from our intention than to cause affront to anyone. But, while regretting the misconstruction put on our words and actions, we hold ourselves guiltless of any departure from journalistic custom or etiquette. The charges, however, that are being made against us of shewing partiality to any individual or any section of the community, of favoring. one portion at the expense of the other, are so unfounded that Aye hasten to make public our most unqualified denial to any such action as that attributed to us. It has been said that we are nursing and encouraging a spirit of factious opposition between what, owing to the natural configuration of the harbour, have become designated as the two ends of the town. This is simply a malicious invention, and absolutely false. We do not recognise any such divisions as. one end or another end of the town save as describing the one or the other locality as to geographical position, and we consider the individual who could do so, in the sense that we are charged Avith, simply non compos mentis. The idea that a dividing sheet of water less than a quarter of a mile in extent should cause those who five on the one side of it to be jealous of those live on the other side, that it should obstruct the welfare of the whole community, and that it cannot be seen and felt by both that what benefits the one, benefits all, is so utterly ridiculous and puerile, that it would

never have occurred to us to so insult our readers as to venture to place such an idiotic theme before them, much less adopt a side ourselves. Still in the face of this it is assented,that we are the champions of Jfche'one party -against theother, ami in fact : that we ''ignore almost the existance of any nut oWApet section of the community. This is ibhe impression that it is being endeavoured to circulate with regard to this journal, but we rely too strongly on the sound common sense, and manly spirit of fair play, of our readers, to think that such calumniation will have any influence with them. With us, the mens conscia recti,- and the knowledge that we have at heart the prosperity, and interest of the, whole district, one portion equally with another, and that no action of ours has ever shewn the contrary, is sufficient. In conclusion, we reiterate our regret that offence has been caused where none was intended, and motives implied where none existed ; we utterly deny having endeavoured to influence the public mind save for the general weal, we repudiate the charge of setting party against party, or of having taken any side in public affairs, as a gross slander, and we deplore beyond expression that any such feeling should exist, if indeed it does, knowing by experience that nothing is so fatal to the prosperity of small communities as internal disunion and party strife.

in the direction Mr Joblin had suggested, but he considered that the-site which he had offered was a good one. He believed the Railway Station would be'erected close to it and it was near to the junction of the two valleys. The people seemed to ignore the existence of the Okute Valley. Land had been purchased there up to the Hill Top. Population was sure to spread in that direction, in fact the population would increase wherever they had the chance to increase.

Mr Westropp was of opinion that a better site for a Telegraph Office than the one Mr Allen was.willing to give could not be. got. But he thought - that the Government should employ their surveyor to survey the sectionand also their solicitor to convey the same. He begged to move a resolution to that effect. Mr Olphert, seconded the resolution, which was carried.

Mr Westropp moved—"That the foregoing resolution, together with the names of the following genltemen, Messrs A. D. Allen. W. Coop, H. Buchanan, J. F. Stanbury, L. Jacobson, and J. Olphert, who are willing to become guarantors, be forwarded to Mr Montgomery."

Seconded by Mr R. Joblin, and carried.

It was moved by Mr Westropp, seconded by Mr H. E. Tyson, and carried—" That a vote of thanks be accorded to Mr Allen for his offer of a piece of land as a site for a telegraph office, and also for the interest he has taken in the matter."

The Chairman said he thanked them for their vote of thanks. He was not fond of work; he was naturally a lazy man, but when there was anything to be done which would be of advantage to the place, he was always willing either to work with his head or to use his purse. He Avas sorry to see some of the people display such apathy in the matter. He was sure a telegraph station would be of great advantage to the inhabitants of Little River. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.