THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL AND THEIR WAYS AND MEANS.

New Zealander, Volume 10, Issue 889, 21 October 1854, Page 3

THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL AND THEIR WAYS AND MEANS.

To the Editor of the New Zbat.ander. Ma. Editor, — 1 am a plain plodding sort of man, but I believe I can sec as far through » brick wall as tome other folks, and when I hear people talking and see people writing about what the Provincial Council ought to do, to make us good roads, &c., I can't help asking ''Where is the money to come from," for I expect that the resources at the disposal of the Council this Session will hi very small. Unless, therefore, they have the power of taxing us for such purpose, T can't tell where they are to get the tools to work with." It is quite clear that without money we can't make roads, and also equally clear that without taxes wc can't get the money. Well, then, if the Provincial Council have the power of taxing us (but it really is a very difficult matter to know where the various powers for different purposes rest), had they not better do so at once, and we had better with a good grace submit to this necessary nuisance, and then direct our watchful attention to see that the money is rightly expended. I remember Mr. Fitzgerald told us that there were, of the 14,000,000 acres of land in the Auckland Province, 800,000 purchased of the Natives. Now put a tax of Od, per acre only upon this, and it will produce £20,000 per annum, which, well expended, would soon open up good roads far into the interior, and do that ill a few years which in the ordinary course of events would require 15 or 20 or 30 years to perform. Let us, then, open our eyes to our real requirements, and ourselves clamour for taxation for such purposes, instead of looking upon them as a sort of bugbear. Whatever others may think, these are the opinions of A Plodding Max. Epsom, October 19.