VICIOUS TAXATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1903, Page 10 (Supplement)

VICIOUS TAXATIONS.

(To the Editor.) Sir—l desire to direct public attention to a system of taxation which is icing adopted by the various suburban Road Boards in taking advantage of an Act which was intended for country districts, but when applied to the surroundings of a growing city like ours becomes most irritating and oppressive. I refer to what is known as the Wheel Tax. There are within a radius of about five miles of the city some dozen Road Boards, seven of which have adopted thie system of taxation. According to this every person driving a load of material exceeding 30 cwt. over any of these roads is liable to be taxed 1/ per load in each district, and according to the strict letter of the law must go to the Road Board office and pay his 1/ before daring to venture through. Either that, or take out a license for each dray of from £6 to £10 a year, acording to the width of the tires. Broad tires £5, narrow £10.

Thus the owner of a cart requiring to travel these seven districts would have to pay £35 per annum for wide tires, and £70 for narrow. Supposing a man worked a dozen carts there would be £420 for the first, or £840 for the latter. But to make the absurdity of it more clear, take as an example a person in Eden Terrace who requires a load of scoria and orders it from Haelett's pit, which is in Mount Roskill district. The carter has first to pay 1/ for going a few hundred yards in it, then he has to pass a few hundred yards through Epsom district—another 1/, next through Mt. Eden—another 1/, finally he reaches Eden Terrace—another 1/. Thus the happy taxpayer living in the Eden Terrace district has to pay 4/ taxation on a load of scoria, the original cost of which at the pit is 1/6. And what, applies to Eden Terrace likewise appliee to the citizens of Auckland, Grey Lynn, and Parnell. Hundreds a year are going from this city to make these districts fat, and then the cry is "Look what it is coating to make and maintain our streets." No wonder, when 10 to 15 per cent, goes to pay this so-called wheel tax, and yat none of our Councillors of the Auckland city or Grey Lynn Borough appear to have realised what they are paying. Of course the carter l'.aa to pay, but it's well known the bur-o'-n does not rest there: he has to pass it on.

Hitherto the burden has been quietly borne, but it is becoming so severe that it is time to cry, put, and I trust that

the grievance felt which I have tried to voice will be followed up by others, and that we shall not rest till relieved of this most objectionable imposition. — i am, etc.,

GEO. WINSTONE.