The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 23, 1901. THE WHEEL TAX.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 194, 23 August 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 23, 1901. THE WHEEL TAX.

Tub discussion in the Borough Council on Tuesday evening as to the proposed wheel tax for tho County is interesting, as showing that tho Borough is at last waking up to the effect that such s tax will have upon the Borough generally. It would have been thought that a copy of the Bill would have been submitted to the Borough Council boforo it was broughit before the Houso at all. That at least would have seemod a courteous proceeding. No doubt the Borough would have at once raisod obiection, but we are sure that no thought of that kind would have prevented tho County Council acting ! fairly towards the Borough in tho J matter. The position now is that j

perhaps an exaggerated idea of the effect of tho Bill has been created in the minds of the people, some of whom have taken up in earnest tho jocular remark that even bicycles are to be taxed, and such is the general misconception of the measure that we would not be at all surprised to learn that some people have got the impression that perambulators and go-carts come within the scope of tho measure. When the Bill was first mooted, the

Times called attention to the objectionable nature of a tax of the kind. Tho revenue it will produce will in no measure make up for the irritation that will be caused. Of course, no one cares for having to pay taxation levied in a direct way. A great financier has said that people who consider any means justifiable to evade a direct tax would without a murmur

pay double the amount if it were I levied in an indirect way. But of all classes of taxation that placed on wheels is m st objectionable, much more so than the old-fashioned stylo ■ of toll gates. It is strange that the Borough has been so slow to move in the matter. It may be said that even if the Bill is carried the objectionable provisions will not be enforced, but it is not likely that the County Council would seek for such powers without intending to give effect to them. There is no doubt that the County is urgently in need of funds, and that some additional sources of obtaining revenue are , urgently needed. A wheel tax would have the effect of compelling many to contribute towards tjio cost of the maintenance of roads who now escape contributing any share, but we t-him: it will soon be'found in practice that it will be better to let those few escape than to attempt to enforce the payment of a tax that will be strenuously objected to by everyone.