Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878] THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1893.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4382, 30 March 1893, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878]

THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1893.

Being tub extended title of the Wairauapa Daiit, with whioh it is identical

We are somewhat astonished to find that bis Worship the Mayor proposes to continue the gas tax in Maaterton as far as non-conanmereare concerned in order to compel them to become consumers, In the first placo it has been demonstrated that the tax is no longer necessary and in the second it is patent that it should be discontinued at the earliest possible moment, because, as wo pointed out in a recent issue, it is a penalty which ratepayers have had to pay for the blunders of a former administration, The idea of retaining .it as an artifice to compel surdity, We do not believe the burgesses of Maaterton will take compulsion of this kind from either the Mayor or any of the Councillors and if it be attempted they will get a very prompt vote of want of confidence from the burgesses, But what is the practical efieot of the Mayor's proposal ? Is it not that the smaller householders shall pay for thegas used by the larger householders, is it not that the pporermen in the community shall pay for the lights used by the richer men, and is a monstrous injustice of this kind to be for one moment tolerated. Are not the non-con-sumers of Maßtcrton mostly working men who cannot afford to use gas or to put it in their houses. Is it right tfint they should bo specially taxed to provide lights for the big business premises of the top? Surely Mr Ppwnal) must have spoken without givipg the matter due thought when he made euph a yicious proposition. As we write a stench of bad gas invades our den. If the Borough Council want tQ increase, thejr output let them make good gas and not say to the working man of the town you must either pay a gw tax or put a stench trap into your cottage, It is true that in the case of a water supply in a town a nofrcpnsumet may be made to pay a partial contribution, but water is usually recognised as a necessity and gas!«but a question--Ma luxury, An argument whioh «"- • l! ««hlo to wafer |g alto, maybeappuw. • 4 m gether inadmissible for %& trust His Worship will recofsider the I mate, aud will not again ffl&m to)

call upon ilia poorer ratepayers in the borough to pay the gaabillojf theirricher neighbours, Ifby some 'legal subtelty such an unjust -tax can'be levied we venture to predict that it oannotbe oolleoted. The whole oommunity would be up in arms against it, and half the burgesses in the town would resist payment. The proposition is on the face of it ridiculous and must, we beliove, have been made by the Mayor without duo consideration of the effeots of it. One other word on this gasqueßtion and we have done. There jb an impression amongst practical men that the gaß works are not omically managed, that too muoh labour is employed and that some of it is too highly paid. If the Borough Council proposes a special rate to cover extravagant management some further enquiry into the whole question will be absolutely necemy in the interests of both consumers and noo» consumers.