The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1889. The Property-Tax.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3288, 21 August 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1889. The Property-Tax.

The discussion on the Property-tax which has recently occupied the House, and the close division upon it, shows that it is not acceptable to a number of persons in the Colony. It may not be inopportune at this season to review some of the objections nmde by settlers against it, and in .doing this' it jvjllbp necessary to scrutinise the administration of the Act under which the tax is levied, One of tho strongest objections is the inequality of the valuations as between neighbour and neighbour, and. between properties in one district and another. For instance, a property tp Nprth Wairarapa having an equal carrying capacity and similar advan - tagps to one in the South, may be yaluefl jit ilouble or treble, and this ocpurs |iiore or Iss thfojighpuJ thg Colony. Probably the reason of this is the system of tendering for the office oMssessor, and tli§ waijt of a common base from which all assessors should start. One way to obviate this inequality of values would be to have a Court of JReviow, say, for a district .comprising the two Wairarapa Cpsjiities; The duty of such court would bo to thoroughly go through the valuations pf- tho Assessors prior to their note books being sent into t]bo Commissioner, and to correct spy inconsistencies in value. That the present system is unsatisfactory was clearly demonstrated in the Hawkes Bay district during the assessment made last year, when the Department had to institute a plan of espionage over its own valuers, Another outcry made against tho Property>tax Assessment Act, particularly by the unthinking portion of the population, is, tint tjio valuations made under its provisions are used to strike the County and RoaiJ Board rate on. In support of this several assessors Jiave informed us that settlers, especially many of the small holders make the statement. >' We do not care a straw about tha Property Tax the mortgagees will be liable for that, but it is the County and Road Board rates we cannot stand." It is obvious that this objection provided the valuations

between neighbour and neighbour are equitable, cannot hold water, for, no mutter whether the valuations are all high, or all low, or mode by the Local Bodies, who have the power to do so if they wish, the tax lor local requirements cunnot be lessened ono i'Jtu so long as roads and bridges have to be constructed and maintained out of local revenue, A low valuation throughout a county would simply mean a Id in tho £ rate instead of |d as on a high value. The Act is also characterised as inquisitorial. This is scarcely correct, for no Assessor is allowed to pry into particulars pertaining to personal property, nor can anything be known about it except at the ollice of the Commissioner unless owners are uuable to fill in the form supplied to them, Then, if requested, it is the Assessor's duty (under an oath of secrecy) to do so, and ask all necessary questions for that purpose, It is probable that an Income Tax would be of a far more inquisitive nature, and instead of questions being asked, professional and tradesmen's books would be overhauled by aovemment officials, The contention that absentee owners get off as,light, or lighter, than hard working settlers who directly and indirectly improve' the'property of the former, bears some weight, and the difficulty, as often pointed out, could be got over by making these absent drones pay a higher percentage of taxation, The assertion that the Property Tax|keeps capital out of the Colony opens a wide question for argument, and one that is not easy of proof. It may be found that a Land aud Income Tax in piaotice would have much the same effect. We believe that so long as tho Colony has heavy burdens to meet, aud so long as taxation is necessary, particularly that of a direct character, so long will people rail against paying it, Only lot the Property Tax be imposed'on a fair and equitable "valuation as between man and man, and we believe there \yill be few to lindfault with it. In ly'ritiug upon this subject we have refrained from going into some of the broader phases of the Property |Tax, which have been frequently deilt with, and merely draw attention to objections wo have heard made by settlers in this district,

The Borough Council did a very proper thing last night in instructing the Works Committee to report on the best means ota remving the nuisance caused by the creek leading from Chapel-street to the Eastern side of Queen-street. This creek has become ono ol tho foulest spots in the place, and being in the very centre of the town, there is no knowing how many persons may not have been contaminated through it with disease, The Committee will also be able to indicate whether the work should be carried out entirely at the expense of. the Council, or whether theJTown Lands Trustees, as owners of the section through which the creek passes, should bear a portion of it.. The question as to who should bear the expense is in reality a small one compared with the importance of the work.

Victorians are just now giving a splendid illustration of how to rob Peter to pay Paql, 4 n attpnipt is being made to increase the grain duties to three shillings per cental, and, if we know anythiug of Victorians, this will be carried. The idea which actuates tho movers in this matter appears to be that the foreign producer will, in eU'ect, havo the amount deducted from the valqo of the grain which be sends into Victoria, How delusive this is may bo seen with reference to oats, which is more largely imported by our sister colony than any other kind of grain. Th? past has simply shown that Victoria can not gro\y as ipd) of this cereal as she requires, even ij tho nrioe were double what it is now, as the bulk of the land is not adapted for it, A large quantity must, therefore, bo drawn from elsewhere, This lnis to bo paid for at ordinary market rates, plus tho duty. Therefore, to please the comparatively small number of farmers who can grow oats, every consumer of that article lias to pay a higher price for it. Pljp as 'these facts are, the Protection notion is carefully hugged and fostered, in tlio vain hope that good nuiy come of it,

The Ohlof Justice Is expected t? return to Wellington from Auckland oirFriday next.

Mr T. Donno, stationmaster at Wellington, who has been laid up with typhoid fover, is staying iu Masterton at present recuperating his health. Ho informs us that tho fresh country air is doing him a great deal of good.

The man Shell, who got stuck in tlio mud on the I'lketahuna-Alfredton road some days ago, was brought down by the aftprnqop twin on Tuesday and re. moved to the Hospital, During the journey he was in tho oare of Constable Roche,

A meeting of the Committee of tho Masterton Agricultural Society is beiiif held this aftertoon, thero being a good deal of important business, including ths arrangement of the programme, to bo disposed of.

The annual ball of the Masterton Volunteer }?iro Brigade takes place at tho Theatre Royal this ovoniug, As the Brigade is one of the most useful Institutions in the placo, it is to be hoped that the public will giye the gathering ample support, The Committee which has the matter in hand has made every preparation to ensure success.

Judgmont was given in the Supreme Cp'un ai'Wellington oil Tuesday by His Honor, Mr J||stico Richmond, in tho action of Moore v Meredith, bettor knowi} (is the Ejmraima road dispute. Tho vefdipt was fof the defendant, This practically constitutes the track winch had been closed a public road, To celebrate the result, Mr S. R, Meredith entertained a number qf his friends at a supper at tho Occidental Hotel last night,

The Mayor let off a double quantity of fireworks over that wishy-washy subject—the water works—at the meeting of tho Borough Council on Tuesday, and, as usual, everything ended in spipke, the majority of the Council adhering firmly to their resolution that no ratepayers' monoy shall be spent upon the scheme. Thero wos a good deal of banter exchanged between the Maypr on ono side, and Crs. Hessey, l}epqn and Fittou qn tho other, and the approving . olectiqns were held up again as a sort of red rag Towards tho end tho discussion degenerated into mere exchanges of left-handed compliments, whicli were, however, taken in good part, Mr A, Bisli, our ex-Mayor, was present during the last quarter of an hour, and appeared to enjoy tho proceedings immensely,

The" drunkard's cloak" is a wooden barrel perforated with holes, through which are passed the head, the legs and the hands of the toper, who, being in. vested with the" order of the tub," is thus ignominlously excited in the streets of Copenhagen. The palace and gardens ofVersaillps afe being restored after }uyin? fallen into a lamentable state of decay durhic; the last few yoars. Repairing the grei)t fountains has proved a very expensive affair, the Neptuuo fountain alone costing over £20,000,

Messrs J. W, Gordon & Co. lia/e ati advertisement elsewhere which should prove of interest to heads of families, bushuiou, settlers and contractors, It is stud by tho Times that Mr Ballanco contemplates taking legal proceedings against the Waikato Times on account of certain reflections recently made upon him in that journal. Tho ordinary practice of the Philharmonic Society, which was to havo taken place this evening, lma been has been adjourned till to-morrow ovening. There is no fresh nows from Kokatau about the missing child Thompson. Search is being continued by the police and by a few volunteer explorers. There aro no largo search parties out now,

The following tenders wore received by tho Wairampa North County Council for metal carting on tho MastertmiWaimata ro d:—11. Manning, broken stone, Is Id, other ,'s 3d (accepted); 11. G. Westbrook, Is lOd and Is lOjd; P, Carr, Is 6d and 2s 3d.

Tho Borough Council on Tuesday decided not togrant aliconso oil account of the Drill Shed for purposes of public entertainments, the report of the special ooimniltee as well as that of tho building surveyor boiug against it. The charges of perjury preferred against Inspector Thompson, Chief Detective. .Benjamin and Detective Campbell, arising out of the late trial of Oliomis for murdor, are being hoard before Mr C. C. Graham, 11.M, at Wellington to-dny, Tho patrons of dramatic performances in Masterton will bo pleased to learn that, arrangements havo been made under which tho D'Orsay Ogden ("Jo 1 ') Company will appear at the Theatre Royal on the 6th 7th prox, Tho Company is an exceedingly good one, and should draw largo houses. During a discussion on tho Gas Committee's report in the Borough Council on Tuesday it was-stated that advices had been received that a rise in the money market might bo expected. This means that money will not be quite so easy to obtain, and in the face of this probability tho Council deemed it •prudent to float iIDOO worth of gas debentures at 95.

Messrs Slade and Jagerhorn announce in another column that they have commerced business at Eketahuna as general commission, forwarding, and insurance agents, their office being at the Town Hall. Both members of the now firm are well known throughout the district, and they Bliould therefore do a pood business.

_ In view of the approaching inspection oi the Volunteers at Wellington by Major-Genoral Edwards somotime next month, the Masterton Rifles aro requested io parade every Thursday evening at the Drill Shed until further notice. All nou-commissioned officers will meet at the Trill Shed this evening to prepare for their approaching examination, Sergeant-Major Bezar will be present . The committee who are promoting a benefit performance iu aid of tho family of Mr James Cornwall of Carterton, who through illness has been lncapaciated from working for the past two years, met last night. They decided to hold a concert and dance in tho Lyceum Hall, Carterton, on 11th September, and appointed Messrs Potts, Deller, and Catt a programme committee. The entertainment is expected to bo a very attractive one; and it is anticipated that talented vocalists from Masterton and Greytown will bo asked to assist popular local amateurs in producing the musical items, Good news from Wellington, and quito true, you can get a splendid harmonium from L 5, piano or organ from Lls, organ with divided octavo couplers all m solid black walnut cases from Ll7. This beats all the oheapost houses in town, Pianos tuned for 7s, or by tlw year four visits LI, travelling exponses addod, All kinds of musical instruments tuued, cleaned, and repaired new reeds put in accordeons, concertinas harmoniums, and organs; also liboral oxchnnges made, Any instrument may be purchased on tho time payment system from 2s fid per week. Call and exchange your old piaqo for a now one atF. j. Pinny's .Musical Instrument Dopot, Manners-street, Wellington, (Sole agent of the celebrated Worcester organs.)- advt.

' As a result of the highly successful sale which has just terminated, we find,as usual a large accumulation of remnants of every description, which we nrp determined to sell fit yen low prices for 14 days longer, at To Arq House, Wellington, In addition to these, there are some small balances of bargain! in the various departments, whioh wo also wish to dispose of during the Bame period, at To Aro House, Wellington.

Wo need only say that many of these bargains will be found in our show room, and comprise millinery, underclothing, costumes, jackets and mantles. Those who ave desirous of buying indubitably cheap lots should see them without further delay, at To Aro House, Wellington, |§And so. also in the dress, fancy and clothing departments thcro a few lots thjit wo iyill sell without regard tq the original cost, in, several cases'absolutely at liaif tho original English prices, for U days only, at Te Aro House, Wellington,

Every lady should see what is left in the, way of silks, velvets, dresses, gloves, Ac., and the prices at whioh wo will ofier them for this short period only; and every man should embrace the opportunity of buying •the few special bargains in overcoats, Ac, that are to he sold in the "clothing department at Te Aro House, Wellington,— Aovr. EKETAfIUN A EOAD BOAKD. Tiie Board met on Monday, August 19. Present, Messrs A, Anderson (chairman), Bright, and Neilson.

The chairman tendored an apology to the Board for not attending the last meeting, stating that he had made a mistake in the time.

The following tenders were then opened for the Malrakalii bridge contract: J. Dawson, Masterton, £223; C. B. Vino k Co, Wellington, £236; Julius Jospersen, Eketahuna, £21)5; A. Milne, Woodville, £808; Maurice Piellishcr, Eketahuna, £487 ss. Mr Dawson's tender was accepted, tho contract to be completed within ten weeks from time of signing contract.

Correspondence inwards was read: From D. McGill, application for £7 10s due on contract extras.

From F, 6. Moore, County Clerk, re adjustment'of road district boundary, Iksoived that the clerk write to Mr Moore that the Board agrees to pay halt the cost of survey, From Messrs Anderson and Basset!, asking the Board to authqrjso them to clear.the road line, and the Board to pay for same. Kesolyed that Messrs Anderson and Bassett be authorised to fall tho bush on their road line at£2 per acre,and that they leave a track three feet wide,

From A. Bridge, forwarding tracing of road line through seotiona 32 and 34, Block IV., Mangaone, requesting tlio Board to open up the road through the same. Resolved that the clerk write to Messrs Grey and Bridge, owners of sections 32 and 81, that the Bpai'd is willing to pay for bush felling op the foad line, and that the deck write to Commissioner of Grown Lands re road through this block. from Mr Beard re bonds, and notifying the Board that ho had mado demands for the amount of the bonds to Bryant's sureties, and that as the amount was £IOO, proceedings could be token in the Magistrate's Court. Eesolv.ed that the clerk write to Mr Beard, requesting him to stay proceedings till Saturday next, 24th instant, when there will, no doubt, be a full meeting of the Board to decide the question. It was resolved to write to the County Council re tbg state of the ponnd, and the raeetiug adjourned till Saturday, 24th inst, at 2 p.m.