A NOVEL DEFENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1712, 31 March 1906, Page 2

A NOVEL DEFENCE

RELIGION AND KATES

At the Core S M. pourt, C. ,Qlsen was sued by the Borough of Coro for the sum of £L Os ijd for rates. Mr W. F. Inder appeared for the plaintiffs. C. Olsen, being sworn, said that, ac* 1 cording to the Scripture, he had no right to be called upon to pay the' amount so levied. He based his objection on St. John’s Gospel, the Gth | chapter and 27th verse. ; Mr Inder hore got the Bible, and commenced looking for the passage, which reads : “ Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life,” etc.

Defendant said that that was the passage, and under it he had no right to pay rates on the demand of the Council. He did not labor for t h meat that perisheth, and on the authority of the Scripture he declined to pay this demand. The Council increased the rate since last year.; He had the money to pay, but he would not do so unless ho was compelled. In January last, when he was praying to God (which he always did at 5.30 every morning), a voice spoke to him, and he asked God what to do. The voice said : “ There is a widow woman and some children in a buggy who require help,” and he asked God what to do. Ho (the defendant) gave £l to the yridow to help her rather than pay this rate, which the Scripture said he ,kad no right to pay. He still had money, but the Scripture was his guide

The Magistrate said that the Scripture also said : “ Owe no man anything,” which lie thought a much stronger (CQnimand than the one quoted by defendant. ' 1

The defendant ; But I don’t owe it. The Council demands it from me, and the Scripture says I must not pay it. The Magistrate : The Council could not borrow money to improve the town if they could not get their rates in. Continuing, his Worship said he ws.3 sorry he could not spare the time t,Q continue the discussion on Mr

Olsen’s fines, but as the'Sciripture said, fl Owe no man anything,” he would

have to give judgmept on that authority for plaintiffs, with costs gs, He advised Mr Olsen to pay debts first, and he coulk help the widows afterwards.—Southern Standard.