Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1895. WAIRARAPA SOUTH COUNTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5015, 2 May 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1895. WAIRARAPA SOUTH COUNTY.

Ox Saturday last the Wairarapa South County discussed several ques- ] lions of general interest, One was llio comparative amount spent in poor relief by the North and South Counties, and the contrast was ul) in favor of the latter, which applied for. £l4O as against £SOO for the former. It is for the North Wairarapa Benevolent Society to explain and adjust this palpable discrepancy. Another matter of even greater importance was the probability ol the Government bringing in a Bill next session to amalgamate Counties. It is thought that the Paliiaf.ua, North Wairarapa, and South Wairarapa Counties will be united, aud it is important to consider what bearing; this will have on the ratepayers. The probability is that it will ease off the rates in the Pahiatua County, and increase them in the other two areas. There is, of course, an urgent domaiul forthc expenditure of money in the newly settled districts of the Pahiatua County,aud it may answer, the purpose of the Government to throw the responsibly of finding it on the ratepayers of Wairarapa North and of Wairarapa South. Tho prospect of increased local taxation as well as of general taxation ought to rouse settlers in the Wairarapa to take an active interest in next session's legislation. It is to be regretted that the Government lias not circulated! tho local Government Bill which it intonds to introduce, so that settlers might understand its scope and effect, but the danger signal has been hoisted by pretty plain intimations from. .Ministerial sources, Another ineuacing aspect of the expected changes 'is tho probability of manhood suffrage for-the .election of the rating body. In the pahiatuaCounty there are innumerable small; holdings whoso occupants could tax 1 settlers at this end a pound for every penny for which they rated themselves. The -Wairarapa South County passed a resolution, asking the Government .to circulate amongst local bodies, hefore Parliament meets, any measure which it intends to bring forward next session, but we fear that there is but a small prospect of this reasonable re.questbeing complied with, It is

usual to give information of this kind to trades-unions but not to important local bodies. Wo ourselves on principle are in favour of strong ooiiuties„imd provided anamalgamation were effected on equitable terms wo should liavo nothing to say against it. But if the effect of it will be in the direction of increasing tho rates paid by tho already overtaxed settlers of Wairarapa North and South wo should certainly object.