MR PHARAZYN'S REPLY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 797, 18 June 1881, Page 2

MR PHARAZYN'S REPLY.

[To thtf-Editir of theWAiRAKAPA'DAUY,] , ,;,?i?i— ",An / EJectorj'-.ba recent ispue ' tue"honor to wish thatl;W.ould .more fully, statermy-views on taxation," in 'further"explanation iof the idea's oh this subject "which, 1-ex-ipressed atrtlie last County Council/meetI propose briefly : ; as to the branch oflbe question, affecting local bodies,'-as it was onthatpoitit'thatmy remarks:at ■the Cpunoiliwere taader •" j ly. ' ] •,!. .*' •' The question ofjihipsfc pressingiiintorest to the* Council and' 'other local bodies charged with the construction and .maintenance of roads is, "Shall,we, in any form,. receiye :assistancefr6m ; tlie Govern%.nt,'ih lieu bf'thejubsidies been^abolished?^ K This question "is ; a ,'purely .practical {one,'. and; in .considering it', thei matter, is%,much simplified ;by .ighqiing all theories aa <to. whether we ought or ought not toip.econfinirig-our-selves s.t.rictly:tb'the inquiry' whether .we .CO)!.:; .. ;, ' : ;:;■■; v,c.: ■.■ ■:■';,:■■'■'' .. j The. view I expressed at the Council .was,- that all futui'e revenue in the colony must be raisedby taxation. ■ -1 did not believe it possible-that any assistance can be,.giyen towards' maintenance of roads and bridges, '■ Ifrieems to me clear that if any kind.of subsidies forthis purpose are to be- given, Municipalities must receive itheiri share, and -that'''•&>would be far better for.,the localities to raise the amount ; than >to have ,it collected for them by the General Government. If it were possible ; to suppose ..that..the -Municipalities would f waive ,tlieir claim to any such share, much .could be.said in favor, of assisting..thinlyj.populated districts for a time. This, howi'eyer, it is not reasonable to expect, |a3 itlipse bodies areji as iar'.rule, so loaded with debt that their present rates are ex.cessiyevandthe.rate'payers.inthemrequire relief quite as.muoh.asthose.-in country districts.: j /. ' \ ( > \ I \ }[ ; While, therefore, seeing clearly that to raise.funds ; by general taxation'tq giyflit to the local bodies - for'maintenance purposes would.be.a.mistake; and if, as I have, stated, taxation is the only source of revenue,- the question arises,' How is .tlie'cQuutry.tpJje^ifenod..up ? My reply to this isTfiat as far as the Crown lands are concerned the Government is at lastadopting .the only wise and:. proper .course. The, present policy is to make roads'before the land is sold—paying for them out of the proceeds of such sales, This is merely a return to the souud system known as " Wakefield's principle .of civilisation'" Ho laid it down as an essential ppint that; land, should be sold fora; sufficient.price,: that is to say, for enough to settle population on it. During the time of Provincialism this .principle was" eutiroly ignored,' the one idea, in niosfcofthe Provinces at thattimebeing to sell the land as fast as possible, and treat tho proceeds as.ordinary revenue. It was cm this ground; mainly .that I so Singly"Pppqsod_, as V member ot tlie Provincial Council, tho Executive, of the dajv I saw land being gold at almost nominal pi'jOQs, and' tljp proceeds spent in Wellington or other settled districts, Those lands, having boon robbed of the fund out of which roads through them should have been inado, are without them Jo, this day,, and must continue so unless some fresh system is devised to meet the difficulty. It is,fpr this purpose,' in my opinion; that subsidies should! be given should the revenue prove sufficiently elastic to admit of it. By confining' our whole demand to assistance in constructing new roads through lands which are otherwise completely closed to settlement, and willingly taking upon ourselves the whole charge for maintenance and. rehewals ; we shall,, shut put the Municipalities from making any claim. If this is done, a modofat'e sum, which would be completely - wasted if divided on the,, subsidy principle, will suffice to construct a great many of the"roads most urgently required. There are, however, cases, wheri) tl)is process would be too slow, anil the only;'other resource js{ borrowed; money. _' Major"' Atkinson's proposals of last session for lending, money for such purposes, to be repaid with intorost within fifteen : years, would" best meot these cases, and will probably become law: during this session, ■-.;• j ,; 'J.'shoiMexplaih that'iri; the' term main: teuance I do not include roads formed' through Crbwn'Jand Native lands for colonial purposes,.such as that through the Seventy-Mile Bush. :■■ Such.works■ us these must.: cjearly ; be- prpyjded" for out of the general revenue mhtißhe country through which ithey pass becomes settled. .:' .'.:•';;!"' '•'' '. " ' '■■•/'•'' """ : "' Ihave r &c, '■■- '■ '■'!•'<-... v . V:-.:' ; 0, ; C. ; PhABAZTO. .. .'... ' " ' "i ■■ ■: ■ . '