The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1883. COUNTY-TAXES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1452, 9 August 1883, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1883. COUNTY-TAXES.

Last evening a formal agitation was initiated against County taxes. The real question which is open for discussion, and which it is desirable to resolve, is the fairness of the present County taxation. It is alleged that special rates for special works under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act ought to bo collected instead of being taken out of the general County rate, and we at once admit that this should be done where it is practicable. In carrying out a new measure it is often found that a provision which seems excellent in theory is unworkable in practice, and this is especially the case with the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. It is very diffioult to define the exact area of a special rating district for a Special work, and' the work of collecting the rate is still more arduous. No collector, for exiimple, would undertake on any ordinary terms to get in a farthing from one settler, a halfpenny from another, and twopence halfpenny from a third. This, however, is wjiat would have to be done if the special rates were collected. The law, however, gives another alternative, via., to pay them out of the general rate, and this course has been adopted by the Wairarapa East Council, In doing this, however, the Council has been careful not to make a riding like the Master ton one contribute towards the cost of a .special work in the Alfredton district. It has on the contrary said to it, "Your contribution to the sum required for special rates is about £3OO, and as you don't want any special works, we will give you this amount back to be expended by your Road Board on your ordinary roads." Of course this is a somewhat roundabout way of financing, but it is the best arrangement that .can be made under tho existing Acta in the interest .of the district as a whole, Of course it, may be said with truth that Borne trifling advantage might accrue to the Masterton Riding if it paid all its road making rates straight into the Treasury ofthe Masterton Ropd Boar&

but we hope settlers'in the Riding will not stand out against the progress of the district as a whole to secure some inconsiderable advantage to themselves. Settlers in the Masterton Riding may say: "We have the' roads made we want for ourselves, let the outlying districts go without," but we hope they will take no selfish ground of this character. The advantage of the district as a whole is their individual advantage, and if they can secure it without undue outlay, it is their interest as -well as their duty to promote it. The payment of additional rates is always a greviance, but it has its bright as well as its dark side. It means that money is being raised to open up all parts of tho district, not for the benefit of individuals, but for tho advantage of the community. It cannot be urged that rates, which are perhaps in the aggregate half as much again this year as compared with the last one, are oppressive. Wo heard an old settler denouncing new taxes in unmeasured terms, the other day, but he wound up with a singular admission, He said: " Anyhow lam better able to pay them than I formerly was, for I am getting sixteen shillings each for sheep, which at one time would only fetch seven and sixpence." We hope settlers will not be afraid of paying according to their increased means a larger contribution towards roads. By doing so they will push the district ahead, and lay the keel of their own fortunes. There are other points raised by the opponents of County taxes to which We have not space to refer to in our present issue, but we have no doubt there will be ample opportunity for discussing one and all fully and freely. We do not regret that differences of opinion exist 011 a question like County taxes, or that settlers should be stimulated to take a lively interest in County administration. If the County rate does nothing more than rouse settlers to watch the manner in which public money is raised and applied to the making of roads, it will have done some service to the community.