FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1886. THE POOR RATE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2212, 5 February 1886, Page 2

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1886. THE POOR RATE.

! We are not surprised that a feeling of antagonism is displayed in this district to tbo imposition of the impending poor rate. In Wairarapa North there are many rattlers in town and country who would sooner pay two pounds voluntarily towards the sick and poor than they would pay one ou compulsion, more especially when, as in tie present instance, the demand is to be made by a Wellington Board. Possibly in Wairarapa South settlers may be in 1 lovh with the new impost, otherwise we should not find men like Messrs Buchanan and Bunny acting as poor, rate commissioners. Still, in. Wairarapa North we are not fond of new rates of this character, and there will be trouble on this bid* of the Waingawa before .any poor rate is .paid, The plain truth is, we do not require such a rate. For years past we have provided for ,wt hospital and charitable aid without a jute, snd there is no reason why w« should not ,do /is well in the future as we have In the past; under n yolimtary system. Under" this' system ive have, developed the most! efficient hospital in the colony, nnd any chnngo now is not likely to Wa'ttenajed-j with advantage, i poor rate will certainly kill our voluntary' subsorip-J tions. .For seven years the. Wasterton Hospital has flourished on a voluntary basis, and it is probable that for the seven years to come it may languish on a poor rate, On the voluntary lisfi. the working men of the district have always been strongly represented, nnd tins source of revenue is one that should not ,he lightly cast aside. It is said tint a Bum of £-100 is to be raised in Wairarapa North' .byilis projected poor rate. -.We helievo that fcho .cost of cojlection will he .heavy, and that. the expenses of a Wellington staff, and •possibly of our.poor rate commissioners in going,to Wellington, with a possible honorarium, will majta a Viig.h'oJn.in the amount raised! ' Tie genevoleni Society is anxious to carry on without a poor rate, and there is not the slight- ; est doubt that the hospital ought to do without it, A young community like New Zealand does not require poor rates or workhouses, If some of the larger cities like WHllingtonjAuokland, Chmtchurch, and. Dunediri, have not public spirit enough to find their, moiety of the cost, of their hospitals' and benevolent societies, they may act widely in taking aflyimtago' of Hifc n^w'

Ad Wo ■ have, we are thankful to sny, in the past done our duty, in Wairarapa North to the sick and poor without ut wretched rate of this kind, and if we do not perform it in the future we shall be degenerate. We do not desire to see the wide and pra6tioal spirit of benevolence, which has been stimulated amongst settlers here m the past by the voluntary principle, crushed out under the heol of a poor rate.