The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1892.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3089, 3 May 1892, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1892.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Oi whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

To return to the consideration of the proceedings of the County Council conference, the resolution which was carried unanimously to tho effect that the lands still in the hands of tho natives should bear a share of tho cost of constructing and maintaining roads aud other public works, must bo accepted by all as a right principle, no matter how much diJterenco of opinion there may bo its to the moans of giving effect to it, and the possibility 0 of doing so without infringing the Treaty of Waitangi. So far as the treaty is concerned, when it "was made it was impossible that the parties to it could have foreseen the position which has now arisen ; there is, therefore, no moral obligation upon the Government to adhere strictly to the letter of the document. To tax for general and local purposes are quite different matters;'the latter tax is presumedly for the purpose of adding directly to the value of the property taxed, or giving it any assessable value at all. Land without roads and bridges to give means of communication with tho markets of the world is comparatively valueless. It is distinctly an injustice that the European population of a district slioulu be compelled to tax themselves to give a value to their own land and j directly do the same for that in the hands of tho natives, they not contributing one farthing towards the cost. Iu addition, the natives are in no sense backward in using and cutting up the roads which the settlers have by their frugality constructed. To treat on this matter in all its bearings would take up more space than wo can devote to the question. As one of the delegates to tho conference said; it was the duty of the Government to over-como all obstacles which stand in the way of even justice to both races. The principle being accepted, it is their duty to give effect to it. Under existing conditions, the natives have all the fun to themselves. It will be urged no doubt by the advocates of the natives' interests that to tax their land means that their land 4iust be liable, as payment of the

tax is impossible. It is only impossible for the reason that the land ] is not utilized, and to take from a man that which ho does not use is only to indict an imaginary wrong. It appears to us, however, that it would lie an injustice to tax native owners unless all restrictions as to dealing with their lands were first removed. In the other hand if the Government is to retain the sole right of purchase common justice to settlers demands that means should be found to contribute pro rata to local taxation, and the sums so expended taken into consideration when estimating the value for purchase. It is quite time the two races were put upon an equal footing, having the same advantages and the same responsibilities. The advisers of the natives are quite as capable of looking after their interests as are the Europeans of theirs. This much is clear, the present state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue as the settlement and progress of the country is being seriously retarded. The proposal that out-door relief should be administered by the local bodies, in place of contributing to the funds of the Board for that purpose is a proper one. If given effect to it would be a considerable relief lo country ratepayers, as the great bulk of pauperism is to be found in the large towns. The Conference adopted the recommendation of the committee appointed to report on the matter. " That all subsidies paid to counties (other than goldfields counties) should be expended on the main trunk roads iu the county, and such subsidies should beat therate of £2 for every £1 expended on such roads by the county (road to include bridges). This would be a decided improvement on the present system. Keeping the main roads and bridges in repair is the great difficulty with all councils, and upon thoir being kept in good order to a large extent depends the prosperity of a district. With regard to the Rating Act, it was proposed that the minimum rate for any riding shall be 2s 6d, and that 10 per cent, be added to all rates not paid on or before the 31st December in every year j that all lands belonging to absentees, against which judgment has been obtained, shall become absolutely the property of the local body, if not redeemed by the owners within five years from the date of such judgment, such lands to become inalienable endowments for the local body. The first two propositions require no comment. The third, as to the confiscation of the lands of absentees, would be more satisfactory than the present regulation. If a person owns land and fails to contribute his quota to the local revenue, he is not entitled to any consideration from those who are doing the work of colonisation. He is a block to progress, as the land he owns remains in a state of nature.