THE LAND TAX QUESTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1168, 20 December 1879, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE LAND TAX QUESTION.

The Rarigitikei Farmer's Club, ander the impression that the Land Tax 7 Act of last session was illegal, and that the payment of the tax could not be enforced, got the following opinion from Mr E. T. Connelly, a lawyer of high standing in Wellington :— 1. Is the Land Tax Act so framed that the Government can, if prosecuting defaulting taxpayers in the courts, obtain from such defendant the tax attempted to be collected .l Yes; they can distrain, and even sell the land if necessary. 2. Can you suggest anything that would fairly euabh a case to be tried in the court that would probably obtain a verdict for the defendant. . No. . 3. Can you suggest any means of legally resisting this tax in either of the courts in this colony, or by appeal to the courts in Greafc Britian. 4. Will you in general give ns your opinion as to the best course for us to pursue to resist the collection of this tax, either for a lengthened period or altogether ? I can recommend no course for resisting, the Act while it remains in force. If the feeling against the Act is general, I can only suggest that steps be taken to obtain its repeal. 5. Is the Act iu any way beyond the powers of the General Assembly to pass % 6. Will ib make any difference in the legality of the collection of the tax that the Acts sets out the tax shall be collected iu two half-yearly payments % No. 7. Is there anything in the halfyearly collection clause which will prevent the collection of the whole years tax at one time. Assumiug that the tax for two half-year* is due when the collection was made, as was the cause on the Ist inst. I can see no roason why they should not be collected afc the same time.