25 YEARS AGO

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 184, 3 May 1934, Page 8

25 YEARS AGO

New Taxation in Britain (From “Tlie Dominion,’’ May I, UWtl) ' The feature of the British Budget is its new taxation proposals, framed to meet the huge deficit of about' sixteen millions which increasing social reform and decreased revenue would otherwise create in the year 1909-10. New taxation totals £17,200,000. Tlie estimated expenditure for 1909-10 'totals £lb4,152.000, and estimated revenue for 1909-10 £148,390,000. There are ample reasons for suggesting that the Wellington municipal roll is not all that it should be. A clear indication of this is given by the fact that the -population of Wellington City in January last is estimated at 69,357,xind yet the number of municipal electors enrolled is 30,146. or practically half of the entire population, including men, women and children. In conversation with a “Dominion” representative. Mr. James Ames, the returning officer, said he, was awai-e that the names of a number of deceased persons were on the roll. He knew of tlie deaths of some electors, but some iiad died out of the city, and there was no record of these deaths. Moreover, on one occasion he represented ;<> the' authorities that ho' knew of about twenty well-known electors that had died and he wished to strike their names off the roll. He then learned that he had no power iiralo so. * The Hutt Valley Tramways Board at its meeting yesterday, received a letter from a Wellington firm pointing out the advantages of tramway motor-cars for the Hutt Valley. The cost of a ear, seating 36 passengers, delivered on rails at Petone, would be £1335. It was stated that the petrol scheme would not cost more than half of the electric system. It was agreed that, the chairman and deputy-chairman wait on Mr. Frederick Black and ask what it would cost for nis report on steam, petrol and electric tramway traction systems in the Hutt Valley. It was agreed, also, to ask for further information regarding the tramway motor-c.i rs.