THE RAILWAYS and TAXATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1669, 17 March 1883, Page 3

THE RAILWAYS and TAXATION.

TO TJIK EDITOR. Sir. — The Rotmua Railway Company si'Cins to bo quite a blessing to the newspapers by the columns of advertisements winch they have to publish under the District Railways Act, 1877, and no iloubt to this may be due that rare disinterestedness which distinguishes the press leprescntativcs in Parliament. This might be ovci looked, however, were it not likely to ultimately fall upon those beasts of every burden, the settlers of New Zealand, and in this case solely the settlers of the Thames Va'ley. Again, why should the further imposition of the company tax lie indicted on said settlers indirectly, but not less certainly thiough private railway companies, and fui ther, why should the pi operty tax be levied on private and company railways ? This I protested unsuccessfully against in the Assembly, for the whole power of Government supported the iniquity, but it does seem monstrous that rates and taxes arc to be levied on such railways which must more or less directly be paid by the settlers who have tried to remedy the neglect of Government to do them justice in the matter of State railways. It tends to stop enterprise, and is alike unjust and unstnlesinanlike, but is characteristic of the policy of every New Zealand Govornment, irrespective of party, to borrow for biibery and political expediency rather than for useful reproductive public works, prudently constructed, and with an equitable regard to public requirements and preseut and prospective benefits. Votes and impu« dent political importunity are the most potent influences. Strangers seeing the railways, the progress and the public works of Canterbury and Otago think we must live under a different Government, and when they learn that we are taxed for these and for Government extravagance and get nothing in return, that if we veuture to make railways these also would be taxed, that we are taxed by counties and taxed by road boards, taxed in a manner \uiparalleled in any new county, and they see no compensating advantage, they think, as of Ireland, it is a good country to live out of. This it is which makes land unsaleable, and soou -will make it untenable.— l am, &c, William Akchd. Murray.

Mr tV. A. Murray, Piafco, advertises a c lestnut horse running on his farm. Mr J. S. Bucklancl will' sell at the Oliaupo Yards on Tuosday, the 27th March ' mixed store cattle, d.iiry cows, calves, fat and store sheep.' , ,A, poll of the ratepayers of Taotaoroa riding, Pialco County, will bo taken at Gorton on .Saturday, 21, st April, to decide, whether the 'council* hhall borrow i&lB7Ound<sr the Roads iGflnsjjcuccjon Act, to -form and gmvolthe main pni, T « ' ' " .