WHATAWHATA.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 944, 11 July 1878, Page 2

WHATAWHATA.

According to advertisement, Mr McMinn met the electors of the Whatawhata district " m the schoolroom, on Monday eveaing. There was a large attendance, Mr itothwell m the chaij. The candidate having delivered his views iv other townships, aad which have appealed at length, iv the Times, it is unnecessary to report the whole address. In reference to the Counties Act Mr McMinn objects to it as entailing extra expense, and more especially that clause which leaves it optional whether the Acb be brought into force 01 not, but would prefer JRoad Boards with more extended powers. Upon education he declared m favor of a secular, compulsory system, and which should not be left optional wilh the School Committee to bring into force; at the same time, m large towns, where denominational schools are established, he saw no reason why they should uot receive a fair share of assistance from the Government. Upon the present Hating Aot, a3 applied to the country districts, Mr McMinn is very pronounced, and on that point the sympathies of the settlers are certainly with him. He pointed out that the former method ot striking a rate upon the vaiae to sell was, if not perlect, far before the present Act, which levies a high rate on un improved farm, yet upon the adjoining land no rate can b« collected, for the rental value of a block of waste laud iv Waikato is absolutely, nothing. New legislation m this direction Mr Me Minn considered necessary, and without delay. He was also m favor of a property tax, but upon a broad syrftikrn : taxing all lands fairly, whether m largo or small blocks, raads to be made beforehand, so that the value of the land could be estimated before it passed out of the hands of the Government. Mr McMinn concluded a good "speech, during which he was 'several times applauded, by stating t&j^ ifc elected, he would go m as a simple working member, and endeavor to do his duty to his constituents. He was a supporter of the present Government, which he considered the best the country had had many years.

Mr Whi taker then addressed the electors. The first poiut touched upon was future taxation, he held that a land tax and a property tax were essentially different, and should be used for different ends, the land tax political, and the property tax financial. He explained that no single tax could reach both fairly, for land Avaa over increasing m value through improvements/ railways, etc, and would necessarily be taxed higher every year • whereas, property such as houses, town pro. pe>'.ty, etc., remained stationary, often indeed being of greater value at fclfo onwt tlnvu f { v<u- after. Mr Whitaker was m favor of n slidinglahd tax, which .would beon & block of 50,000, acres almost prohibitive, gradually getting less, so that before it reached the small settler it would

disappear altogether; and any change he thought would be better than, the present unfair way of rating settlers, up on their awn improvements. Mr Whitaker then made a personal explanation, m reference to the report so industriously circulated against him. as being m opposition to the Government, etc., ho had traced these reports to electioneering agents m Auckland, but he considered an* explanation to the electors necessary, and he again assured them that he was nob agdiusb the Government ou any of the measures which were before the country. A. *'ofce of thanks to the two gentlemen, and the Chairman, brought the meeting te a close.

At l.lie close of the meotjng, a hasty meeting of the rateyayers of the district took place to consider whether anything could be done to improve the condition of the place, it being generally admitted that the roads were anything but what they should be. A.fter some desultory conversation, the question of forming WJbatawhata into a distinct was brought forward, bat the feeling seemed about divided for andagainst*. Still, il; is a mutter of time. • We shall probably wait a few years more until every other disfcaict m the Waikato has <*ood roads, during which ti.ne we shall be applying to Newcastle Board, that has no funds, or to the Government, which will not recognise us— for we have no status. Then we shall have separation iukK awake from the lethargy which possesses us m road matters. At present if any^ repairs are needed on roads m the immediate neighborhood it has to be done 'either by the sett ers themselves { or the gentlemen who act as our trustees come forward, and do it at their own expense. I have heard that a sum of money has been granted by the Government towards focmiog the vo&d from Whatawhafca to Heather's Creek ; this is good news, for the rate levied upon the improvements of the Waip-i settlers is quite inadequate to' open up main roads through an extensive waste country like ours. — Own Correspondent.