Too Many Local Bodies.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 44, 20 August 1895, Page 3

Too Many Local Bodies.

The multiplication of local governing bodies with rate levying power has for years past imposed burdens grievous to be born** upon country settlers in certain districts. The Patea Press draws attention to an unfortunate locality in Taranaki where the settlers hafe to pay fir? different rates every year, besides other special local taxes. These people contribute to the revenue of a County Council, a Road Board, a Harbour Board, and a Charitable Aid Board, besides paying a tax called a 'sr.ec-al' rate, which no doubt it is accounted a pecuhar privilege to pay by persons s&tuited with promise cious taxation. But we are toH that even this docs not exhaust the Fun, for c cry one who drives a vehicle along the r »ad Las to pay ?n annual wheel tax, and when a!l is said aud done tbev cannot reach tbe town of Ketv Plymouth from any direction without passing through the loU-gate. Wo often hear of the Urili.-h racft for self government, which necessarily includes se^f taxation, but we have seldom come across a case in wliica the inhabitants so n? re) led in multifarious taxation as this. — New Zealand Farmer. -.- vr^mwiV fry mwin»