GAME LICENSES A SOURCE OF COUNTY REVENUE.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 740, 15 March 1877, Page 2

GAME LICENSES A SOURCE OF COUNTY REVENUE.

lx has been suggested to us, and we think with some reason, that the time has fully arrived when the Acclimatisation Society may fairly hand over the moneys derived from the purchase of game licenses in Waikato to the County Councils, as general revenue. The society already receives a large share of support from the settlers of the district, and when we come to look at the matter from a prac-

tical common sense view, it is hard to see who has a better right to the money so raised than the district, which not only contributes it, but which breeds the birds that are to be shot. There is no doubt but that the pheasant is at times a very serious pest, and especially so to the small farmer, and ic would be some compensation to him to know that those birds contributed in some measure to the general good of the district—which they would do, either by giving increnßed means for the construction of public works or saving the necessity for taxation to the same amount of the licenso'fees were c ollectec) by the county. There is very little doubt but that if the proceeds of this tax were made local revenue, a great many more licenses would be taken out than at present