PATEA COUNTY MAIL PUBLISHED Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1880. TAX ON STOCK.

Patea Mail, 13 July 1880, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY MAIL PUBLISHED Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1880. TAX ON STOCK.

The Inspector of Slaughter-houses has introduced an innovation. He is charging a half-penny per head on every sheep, and two pence per head on all large cattle, slaughtered within the County. The County Council have legal power to do this, but the power has not been exercised until recently, because the imposition of a fee means a new lax on settlers; and the Council do not knowingly impose penalties on local industries. This penalty appears to have “ crept in ” by oversight of the Council. They appointed a new Inspec-

tor—their present Foreman of Works—and they supposed he would do the. in--spection duties without extra charge, his salary being fixed at £250 a year.- The! Foreman consulted the Chairman as to the fees, and the Chairman instructed him, that he must charge them according to the bye-laws; and also told him that as they were to be levied by him they must be kept by him. Upon this “ruling” the district has received a new tax, and the money goes to a servant of the Council whose salary is thereby increased without their knowledge.

This is not business-like. If the Foreman of Works is to have £3 a week added to his salary, by charging the amount on the live produce of the district, the Council ought to be allowed a proper opportunity of considering all sides of the question. We cannot see that the Foreman is to blame in the slightest degree. His responsibility ended when he consulted the Chairman, and got from him a definite instruction. The Chairman on his part was not aware that he was imposing a new tax on the district, as he supposed the fees for slaughtering had been charged by the late Inspector; but it is to be regretted that the Chairman should add £l6O a year to the Foreman’s salary, without enquiring what had been the previous practice. We must point out, with all gentleness to constituted authorities, that their discretionary powers involve responsibilities,and these mean exceptional carefulness, knowledge, and circumspection. A grazing County which has no harbor facilities for shipping cattle must boil them down wholesale. If boiling down is now taxed by the Inspector, that means a new and unforseen charge for the nominal duty of inspecting a boilingdown establishment. Observe how this works. The Patea boiling-down Company passed sixteen thousand sheep through their vats this season. Is there any reason for taxing that one slaughter-house to the extent of £32-10 for sheep alone, besides the twopence per head for large cattle? The thing is palpably absurd ; and yet more so when the whole sum goes into the pocket of a well paid servant, without the knowledge of the Council. The County Council ■were unanimous in expressing surprise and annoyance at this innovation, and it must necessarily be disestablished.