THE PROPOSED SAWMILL TAX.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4956, 20 February 1895, Page 3

THE PROPOSED SAWMILL TAX.

[to Tin: eihtoi:.] Sii!,—iSoiiii; short timu since, our Government (with nil tliuiv fuults), recognising that sawmillers Imil roiicliud the very bed rock prices for tlieir timber, decided to give what assistance lay in their power, fo open up a market at Home for timber, accounts of which scheme were published some shoit time ago in the press of the Colony. The other day, at a sitting nf a Committee of the Wairarapa North County Council, a proposition was carried, recommending the Council to levy a blackmail of £3O per annum for each circular saw used by millers; meaning thereby, a tax of say ;Ko'o Dr £9O on small, struggling sawmillers. The promoters of this iniquitous lux, have evidently no regard or respect for fair taxation, but simply a wish to crush out of existence an already broken down industry. Had the said section of Councillors to make a living, (if only for twelve months) in the timber trade, their weight, avoirdupois, would be considerably reduced, and we should hear no more such monstrous opinions expressed. It is premature, in the meantime, to discuss this question, as, no doubt when the Council meets, they will at once throw out this unworkable and unfair proposal. Has this clique of taxation fanatics, made enquiry into the legality of such a stop as they propose '< Have they forgotten I tire lesson they bad over the wheeltyre by-law \ Everything points to 'the fact that they have, ami that they are again ready to squander more of the already overtaxed ratepayers' money. A worm will turn and (although unable) tight. The sawmillers must turn against such an unheard-of imposition, if persisted in.—l am, etc., Tim unit.