The Dog Tax.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 265, 29 June 1906, Page 2

The Dog Tax.

The question of the dog tax was raised by Cr Babbage at the last meeting of the Kawhia County Council, the Awaroa representative stating that tbe collecting of it was very unsatisfactory. The Maoris, who Were th J ones they mote particularly wished fc > make pay,, absolutely refused to pay the tax, and it was to the council's interest to force them to do so. If they were Ist off this year the tax would never be collected, and he thought it adviseable to bring a test case before the court.

Cr W. Shaw remarked that Mr L. Kearns (the collector) bad told him that there were a large number of Maori dogi», but the owners refused to register them. When asked for the tax the natives invariably produced a letter from the secretary of the Native Council, stating they were not to pay. By motion it was decided to take a couple of test eases before the next Kawhia Courts.

The following paragraph from the Auckland Herald will perhaps be of interest in dealing with this vexed question :—“ ‘ The only way to collect the dog tax from the Maoris,’ said Mr Peat, of Wanganui, at the Farmers’ Union G’oalerence at Pahiatua, ‘ is by means of a shot gun and a collar. Carry the gun ic one hand and the collar in tho other. It they won’t take the collar, let them have the gua I’ The conference adopted a recommeuda tion from Wanganui and Shannon that local bodies should collect the dog tax, instead of the Maori Councils acting as collectors.”