RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2974, 6 August 1891, Page 2

RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

TIONS. TO THE EDITOR. Slit,—l sen liy your issue of the Ist instant, that thf, contest for the election of a repre.tentative in the newly constituted riding of Waingaro, is to take place on Saturday next, the Sth instant, the contestants being Mr S. L. Wilson and Mr J, K. McDonald. If I am correctly informed, Mr Wilson goes in for election expressly for the purpose of trying to get a Road Board for the district ; if lie succeeds, then that district will have two taxing bodies instead of one as at present; if he succeeds then the settlers who have recently taken up lands in that riding under the Ptrpetml Lease System—amounting to over i!!), 000 acres— will assuredly be the unhappy inilch-cows of tho 50 acre section men, who, although they pay no rates at all into tho Colonial Treasury, and an amount equal to only i ne day's wages into the local colters, will yet have the power (should the New Counties Act Amendment Bill pass the House), of not only compelling the larger property owners to pay double taxes, but may also carry a resolution to float a heavy loan—on tho security of the rates—which of course would be spent in such a manner as to roll into their own pockets, Mr Wilson's desire to get a royal c image road to his own property at other people's expense, is a very natural one, thoroughly patriotic (?) and of course, quite unsellish (?) Mr McDonald does not favour this double-barrelled taxing power, nor is there any necessity for it, as the County Council at tiie present time has tlie power tolovy these two rates, and any councillor has full power to declare the two rates over his riding, should it be the wish of his constituents that he should do so. In a few words, the position is this: Mr Wilson will declare the two rates, whether the larger property owners like it or not; Air McDonald can do so, if his constituents wish it done ; tho first spells " slavery, the other, "liberty." Waikato.