Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1895 THE PROPOSED SAWMILL TAX.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4956, 20 February 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1895 THE PROPOSED SAWMILL TAX.

J.v another column we publish a communication from an indignant sawmiller. We anticipated that there would be some strong expression of this kind, and it is as well thai the subject should bo discussed from all points of view. Our correspondent opens his letter by expressing an opinion that tho present Government is sympathetic with sawniillers, yet, strange to say it is this very Government which, only last session, passed the Act which enables the County (o make the levy which he finds to be so iniquitous. The fact, however, is that any sensible Government must cither give local bodies necessary revenue ov the power to raise it. The! present Government have little money for assisting local bodies, and it naturally finds it more convenient to give thorn power to help themselves. It may fairly be assumed that the object of the County in taxing what our correspondent calls "a broken down industry," is not" to crush it out of existence," but simply to recoup itself for the damage done to its roads. Our correspondent questions the legality of the tax, but on this point it would be well forhiin to study section 2 of the Public Works Act, 1890. Ho will find subsection«of that section (o authorise by-laws for "providing for the annual or other payment of any reasonable sum by any person concerned in any heavy traffic, by way of compensation for any damage likely to occur to any road, bridge, ferry or ford therefrom," Sawniillers aro not the only men who find some of our new legislation to resemble j Dead Sea Fruit. They must, howover, bear in mind that the law must be respected and obeyed, and liko a good many others they will have to grin and bear it. What can bo done to make the administration of the new law at little harsh as possible to an important local industry, likp the timber trade, should be done. The sawmillers should tako counsel together, and make such representations to the County Council as may be necessary to cause that body to ,w.jse flip revepuo it dewca in the

manner least calculated to harrass or injure the trade. They cannot expect tlio Council to abandon the presont project unless they show that the needs of the County can he supplied from some other source. It is the obvious duty of the County to maintain good roads, and it must avail itself of the means given it by law for doing the work. From this point of view, sawniillers, who must have good roads in ordor to get tlioir produce to market, ought to sympathise with the County authorities, and be willing to assist them to any reasonable extent.