The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1882.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1023, 15 March 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1882.

Thbrb is a certain amount of eonfunion jufai now in the minds of Europeans as well as Maories ovor the dog tax, Tho County in blamed for the sinH of tho Legislature, and mere dog registration is KBSunod to be dog taxation. There ut in obvious distinction between a registration feo and a dog tax, The County collocte a registration fco, for example, one that will simply cover the cost of collar and expense of the Etgistrar, but the Borough levies a dog tax as it charges a sum three or four times greater than would be required as a registration fee. It follows therefore that in any agitation. to oppose the charge levied on dogs it is the act of the Legislature which must be challenged rather tbat the procedure of the County. If it be once admitted that all dogs must be registered, and neither Maori nor European can very well upset this position, the question is narrowed simply as to whether the collar of the dog should be a free gift from the County or the : state, It is extremely probable that a test cabo will be brought into Court to decide, not the power to register, but the right to collect a foe for registering. The sooner this, is done tho bettor, as then tho only point about which there is a shadow of uncertainty will be resolved.