THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2781, 12 January 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 1878.

We can scarcely conceive a greater injustice inflicted by the laws of a country than that pointed out to the Thames County Council by Mr H. Vernon, County Valuator, in the letter accompanying his assessment list of the County for the period 1878-79. There has been so much said and written on the relations of the Europeans and Natives —of equal laws for both races, that the consideration shown for the Natives in. this matter of taxation strikes every one as being grossly inconsistent. As Mr Vernon points out, many of the estates of Native landed proprietors are being rapidly improved by an expenditure raised by direct taxation from which these same land owners are entirely exempt. Not only is this the case, but many of these lords of the soil are drawing large rents from tenants who have also to

pay the taxes. Such a state of things should not be. Wherever the title to Native lands has been individualised and crown grants issued, the native owners should be on the same footing as Europeans, and contribute their share towards opening up the country by means of roads. We are glad to find that the County Council recognise the importance of the question brought under their notice by Mr Vernon, and have resolved to forward his letter to the Government. It will not do to let the matter rest here. This is a grievance—a serious one throughout this and other districts in the North Island—which should be forcibly brought under the notice of the Government, and not per-, mitted to rest until • remedied. If there is to be one law for European and Native, the latter must bear his share of the burden of taxation, for until this inequality is removed there will always exist a feeling amongst the settlers that they are unfairly treated. There are other anomalies in the laws which govern the relations of Europeans and Natives., but this one of immunity from taxation for carrying on local government is perhaps the one most keenly felt by the settlers, who see the Native proprietors reaping the largest share of the benefits from an expenditure to which they contribute nothing.