The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, AUGUST 11,1883. COUNTY TAXATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1454, 11 August 1883, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, AUGUST 11,1883. COUNTY TAXATION.

When we first heard of the irregular meeting convened on Wednesday evening last, we remarked that a regular gathering for tho discussion of the county taxation question would be preferable. Some very wild and ridiculous statements were made on that occasion, and we do not hesitate to assert that the settlers who were present were misled and deceived by almost fabulous and utterly unreliable evidence. For example, Mr Ken all put down the cost of working the County at £IBOO a year. If the cost prove to be only £IOOO, it is evident that Mr Renall is very much in the wrong. If, again, it should turn out to be only £SOO, it is plain that Mr Renall is absurdly out; but how shall we describe Mr Renall's blunder if it can be shewn that is is only £3OOI And yet the latter sum is the amount Mr Beetham put it at when he addressed the electors prior to the present session. That amount was published and talked about, and no one has challenged it. Are we to assume that Mr Kenall is in ignorance of this fact, or that he wilfully ignores it? The difference between £IBOO and £3OO is so great that it can only be explained by the consideration that Mr Renall's aptitude for figures of speech has deadened his faculty for comprehending the ordinary figures of commerce, One grave objection to the late meeting that cannot well be overlooked was the appointment of a committee to give eifect to its wishes, The names of a County Councillor and two Road Board Wardens were placed on this committee to give it weight, but we are informed these gentlemen were not present at the meeting, and gave no authority for their names to be used, This matter requires to be explained, The meeting, no doubt, might, if it thought proper, have added to the committee the Prince of Wales and the Archbishop of Canterbury. This would have been pardonable, but to tack on to it the names of public men in this district without their consent was inexcusable. Had a public meeting been called it would probably have been clearly shewn that even if the County were abolished ratepayers would not save a single sixpence. The Act pro vides that before a proclamation is issued the local hoards of the district must take over the liabilities,/of the County, The first step to be taken is to ask the Masterton Road Board and Castlepoint Roard Board if they arewilling to take over the County liabilities, If they are willing the course is clear, but if they are unwilling the proposed petition, even if it contains tho names required—three-fifths of the ratepayers—will be simply so much waste paper. We trust those who have taken the matter up will read the clauses of the Act bearing on the subject, and not mislead settlers into tho idea that they are going to escape taxation. A public disoussion would tend to removo a good deal of the misapprehension that prevails on thiß subject, and perhaps enable those who are now taking;-action to do somo good by movinef' on right lines. Since writing the above we learn that tho committee have decided to convene a public meeting for Wednesday evening next.' The question now stands a oliance of being fairly put before the settlers of this district;. ;