The Wairarapa Daily THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1890. Taxation in California.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3458, 13 March 1890, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1890. Taxation in California.

The Auckland Weekly News, in a ■late issue, publishes an interesting article, contrasting the method and result of taxation in California in contrast with Now Zealand, and gives an umniskheable verdict iu favor of

the American system. According to tho description given by our Auckland contemporary, California taxes real and personal property as we do, but /or local purposes only. The State Government has nothing to do with tho valuations. They are niado, each for itself, by the fifty-three counties

I into wbich the Stato is divided. The valuators are elected by the people, and to guard against unfair valuations in ono county as compared with another, a State Board of Equalisation is also elected. To guard against favoritism or corrupt dealing, the j sum at which every parson is assessed is published, Each man knows,

therefore, how he fares in comparison with his neighbors. Under this system the returns for 1889, just completed, fix the value of real property and improvements at" 180 millions sterling, of personal property and money 31 millions, and of railways 8 millions. In all we have 222 millions, whioli, by the way, is an increase of 105 millions over the assessed values of 1879, showing growth of a marvellous and. unmistakable kind. Jn 1879 the assessed valuations were only 117 millions; in 1889 they wore 222-millions. On this valuation all the governing bodies base their taxation. The School Boards state bow much in

the pound each will require to be levied on the properly within its own district. The Hoad Hoards and the Counties make the same requisition, Hid finally the State Government I

decides what is required for its purposes, which are also local, Tlia • total levy is then made by the State Treasurer as agent for all, in one j sum, payable quarterly. Thus the taxpayer shows to every man what j be has to pay for all purposes, and he makes that payment to one collector, i The whole of these governing bodies aro also olected on one day. The 1 system, as one of local government, is most complete, and throws the least possible burden on the electors. The valuations, too, are made on a uniform principle, laid fdown in the Constitution of the State, namely, at the full value whioh the property might lit expected to bring if put up at a forced sale for cash, This evidence from California confirms tho opinion we have always expressed that in a colony liko Now Zealand we have no business with direct taxation, either in the form of a property tax or a land tax, except- ■ ing for local purposes. Our Auokland contemporary points out a further i moral from the Californian statistics i which ic has gleaned, and this is, j that compared with that State the , valuations on whioh we pay our pro- \ perty tax are excessive, Though' we possess not much more than one-

tlic population of California,

the aggregate of valuation liable to taxation is much mpre tbaii one-half :lie sum. on which taxes are levied in

the State. In New Zealand thero is a population, of 000,000, aud in

Califoraia-of 1,400,000; "in New' our assessable ; property amounts to and in California to £212,000,000. The main feature in tto contrast is, how wer, the fact that in California there is a real Jive system of independent local self-government, whereas in New Zealand the control Government absorbs tho revenue which ought to go to tha local bodies, and leaves a thousanp and one helpless and poverty striken corporations to make, bricks without straw. : '

An alteration in the advertisement oi Mossrs Kirkcaldie aud Stains, Welling, ton, is niado in this issue.

The annual inspection parade of the Masterton Bide Voluntoors by the Inspector (Colonol Hume) will bo held at 7.30 p.in, on the 19th hist, Finos will bo Inflicted for non-attondanco.

Tho bush fires rasn'ng on tho proporty of Messrs Wardell Bros to tho east of Masterton presented a delightful appearance last evening, when the liyht wind which was blowing fanned the flames into a pyrotechnic panorama, At a meeting of tho Education Board heldonTuesday morning, proposals woro considered for dostroyina rabbits on the Paliau reserve, North YYairarapa, and it was decided to tako activeandimmediate steps to secure tho eradication ol tbopost. The Minister for Lands, the Hon ii: F. Richardson, visited Pahiatua op Saturday and Sunday last, and was interviewed on numerous subjects connected with the welfaro of that district. Tho Minister promised to give his attention to every matter that was brought undor his notice. Mr T.Davjs, of Cartorton, died at his residence on the Bolvidoro road, on Sunday afternoon last. Our Carterton contemporary says ho suffered |from a cancereus growth in the jaws, and at the root of tho tongue, rendering it almost impossible for him to take any nourishment, .

We aro given to undorstand that an Easter Encampmonfc of Volunteers will bo hold in Wellington this yoar, and that corps from the Wairarapa will leavo tor that city by tho afternoon train an April 3rd. Admiral Scott, wo loam by telegraph from Tasmania, denies the truth of tho statement that he oxpressod tho opinion that tho Australian cruisers in course of construction were too small,

Mr Shepherd Alien, who is at present inAuckhnd, has authoritatively stated that he does not intend to stand for tho House of Commons. He would, however, bo willing to ontor the New Zealand House of Representatives.

Tho people of Greytown appoar to have made a remarkable discovery. On Tuesday nisdit, it is stated that Boveral persons spent a considerable time

watching a woll defined comet, until clouds obscured fioir yio'w. It is very strange that the phenomenon should be confined alone to Greytown, One of the principal attractions for ; Monday noxt, St Patrick's Day, will bo a picnio to be held in Mr J. Wriyley's bnsh by the temperance body. The public aro invited by advertisement to attond. ,

The voters list of tho Masterton Towi Lands Truat has just been issued ii neat pamphlet form, the printin? havini been done at tho olh'co of this paper

Altogether there aro 681 nanios on the

Nominations for tho vacancy in tho Wharoanm Eoad Board caused by tho resignation of Mr H. R. Elder will be received up till noon on Friday, the 21st inst., at tho oftico of the Board, Blairlogio Junction, A good'deal of feeling has boon aroused in Wellington by tho action of the Hutt County Council in erecting fresh toll gates on tho Ngahauranga road, A public mooting was called at which the Councils conduct was stigmatized as "underhand, dirty aud unfair," Last night a large crowd assembled and went so far as to to up tho gates aud posts, -burning tbem by the roadside. An information hns been laid in consequence, for wilful and malicious damage to property, against some person or persons unknown, Peoplosoinotimes do uncommon things, but for eccentricity and'stubbornness William Kenny of Ekotahuua takos the palm. 'lt appears that some little tiuio ago, Messrs F. C. Tumor and Co.,

butchers of Eketahuna sued Kenny for an outstanding account of iu, and obtained judgment. At this timo Kenny had in hand contracts for tho Ekotahuna Road Board, and last- Saturday ni«ht received a cheque for £lO3, Mr Turner applied for tho amount which with costs

had mounted to about £6. Kenny refused to pay and the conscnuonce is ho is committed to Wellington. Gaol for 1 days. It certainly eppoars strange that a man with £lO3 iu his possession should profor to sojourn on Mount Cook, rather than meota just claim of £6, Such, turnover is Konny's decision, but vory possibly at the end of a wook ho may soo l things in a different light.

The result of tho Education Board's election is oxnctly as wo prognosticated. Fifty-oiio committees voted out of a total of 76 in the district, and three papers v oro found to bo informal. The poll was as follows:-\V, 0. Buchanan 88; J H. Eraser, 38; H. Bunny, 33; R.S, Hawkins, 29, No less than seven committees "plumped '• for Mi Fraser. Mr Hawkins, the unsuccessfulcandidato, polled remarkably well and would havo been rotunied had not somo onhusiastio supporters o( liis.orperhaps opponentsof the old members, contemplated throwiii" over the latter and plumpiiw for the former. They wero not however etroiif enough to carry out their programme and simply wrecked Mr. Hawkins, chance by the move they attempted in his favor.

tVe (Ohristchuroh Press) do not uppose that ladies sympathiso with time more than men do;' but for some eason oc other many uf theCliristdiurcli iiiv sexlmvo always taken a lenient vicn f the of Jonathan Roberts 'he ladies udmiro bravo men, and thi nay be the reason that in their rank 1 onathiuihas ovoked a spoat deal 0 ympatliy. llion ho was considered ti lave been harshly treated, Every om nought that Ave years, was a. little to nucli for stealing a liorao, This aevorit mut have contributed to. the popularit if Jonathan. Butwhatovor 'the caus ir causes, popular ho' iras with the ladies tVe never heard oneot them refer t rim without expressing satisfaction a )f his escape Wo think that if the; mew what kind of a lpn ho is, h' vould cease to be an hero in their eyes But with them he Las lost none of hi lopularity. We have been creditabl; nformed that when tho news of till irrest was published the other night th jowspapor runners were bosiesred witl 'emlnine Injuries asking whether it wa ;rue that Roberts waß retaken. No em )f papers wcro bought by them to Ascot tain the fate of their idol. ' The Fair has proved a success, in tho it has enabled us to sell out a largo proper lion of our surplus summer stock at To Ar House, AVellihgtoii. "Tho Fair," however, has led us a bal nice; small, it is truo; still, a balance c goods that we should like to entirely cleo out ot To Aro House, Wellington. The " Fair" prices wove extraordinaril; low: very much below lho value of Hi goods; notwithstanding we have, .reduoei them still more, in order to accomplish ou design at Tc Aro House, Wellington. Ladies should peruse attentively ou summary ot these reductions, on oac'h aid of the well-known picture of To Aro House Wellington. < Ladies should pay a visit to our dres counter, as (hoy are certain lo pick ut greator bargains than heretofore; an should nut forgot to look into tho mantl department ami see tho marvels ofoheaj; ness in mantles, costumes and jackets n To Aro House, Wellington. Mies would find it a real pleasure i coking over the balauce of our. season' uil'ioery, with the very tempting prices s diich every article is marked at To Ar louse, Wellington. ■. Ladies are reminded that the specif 'eductions made in those specially enumcr ated articles will continue to tiio end of tb present month only, at Te Aro Hods: Wellington,- v .

■'; 'AWellington paper iiays it laourrehtly reported that lii the oleotoral i divisions the Lower Hiitt will bo united with bouth Wairiirapa.; .*.;' I v . A now advovtißonient 'from Messrs Robertson and Co., iron and brass founders, Wellington, appears in another column.

An interesting advertisement fvomMt T. Batlingor, Wellington, appears in another column.

Mirth's Circus as per imiiduuccnient opens in Mastorton this ovening, The weather may not be ■ propitious, but despite this drawback there wiil doubtless bo n largo attendance. Tho tent is pitched near Benall's will. Tho annual general meolin? of tho Masterton Philharmonic Socioty will bo held in St Matthew's schoolroom to< morrow eyonitig, the business boing to receive report and balance sheet and elect officers.

In view of tho match with Fielding lon Easter Monday, on the Masterton ground, tho following members of the Masterton Football Club ato requested >go into training'-O. and J. Bail' mstor, Blackburne, Eton, F. and W, %i Hill, Hummer, Hirachbere, 0. and E. Hohnwood, Mowatt, Nini, O'Dwyor, Pani, 0,, H,, and J, Perry, Rimgi Bam, Simeon, JRochell, Wallace, and Welch. A practice will bo held on tho Club's ground,'Worksop Ruad, on Saturday next, when all members and intending members aro roquosted to attend-

leaterday afternoon . Mr Honry Flockton, proprietor of tho celebrated Varioty Stores, received a telegram from ft resident in Auckland stilting that a baloon bearing his name had beon found on Mount Eden, the tfoil-known oxlincfc volcauo in the suburbs of tho northern city. Mr Flockton says thot the only baloons he has sold for some tiuio are throe that were bought this wock and liberated from tho Thorndon Esplanade during Wednesday night's band performance, They wero caoli of tissue paper, and on being set frco the wind at once carried them away northward. He concludes that ouu of these muit bo the balloon which has landed in Auckland, and if bo the aoi'inl trip of Wie 400 odd miles was performed in a remarkably short space of timo.-Ex-change,