PARNELL POLL TAX COMMITTEE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3457, 14 August 1868, Page 4

PARNELL POLL TAX COMMITTEE.

A mbktino of the committee appointed by the late public meeting at Ptrnell was held last evening, at the Young Men's Christian Association rooma, Wel-lesley-street, Mr. James Wrigley was v-oted to the chair, and the minutes of the late public meeting were read and oonfirmed. Messrs. Olphert and W. D. Lyanar were added to the committee, and Mr. 0. Lewis was elected secretary. The Secretary read a letter from the Rev. S. Edger, apologising for absence through ill-health. He then read the following form of a memorial to his Excellency the Governor, whioh had been drafted by Mr, H. Ellis. Aftsr some slight verbal alterations th.e memorial was adopted in the following form :— To his Excellency Sir George Ferguson Bowen, K.G.C. S.M. and S.G., Governor of New Zealand, &c. " May it please your Excellency,— We, the undersigned, inhabitants of the city and suburbs of Auckland, humbly desire to represent to your Excellency : *' 1. That an Act was passed by the Provincial Counoil of Auckland, oq the 2nd day of July of the present year, entitled the Siok and Destitute Act, 1868. ' "2. That by the 4fch clause of the said Act it is provided that it shall be lawful to levy and collect a poll tax of the amount of 10s. per head for eaoh male adult (with a few special exceptions) of the province over 21 years of age. "3. That your petitioners regard such a system of taxation as altogether unsound in principle, uujust in it* operation, and in the highest degree repugnant to the spirit and scope of British legislation. "4. That the attempt to collect this tax on the part of the provincial authorities is at present exciting universal indignation throughout the length and breadth of the province. That several public meetings, in town and country, have been held already, to protest against the inexpediency of the measure, and that at all such meetings condemnatory resolutions have been unanimously oamed, stigmatising it as unequal, and subversive of the rights of the subject, "5. That your petitioners believe that the carrying out of this law^ will bear oppressively on a large proportion of the inhabitants of this province, that its collection generally will prove difficult and in many instances impossible, and that the irritation it will ocoasion will have the worst possible effeot upon the peace, order, and prosperity of this section of the colony. "6 That, taking into consideration the foregoing premises, and being deeply impressed with their gravity and importance, your petitioners humbly and earnestly beg that, in pursuance of the discretionary power vested in her Majesty's representative by the Constitution Act of the colony, your Excellency will be pleased to disallow the said Sick and Destitute Act, 1868, of the Provincial Council of Auckland. "And your petitieners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c." Messrs. Wrigley, Field, and 0. Lewis were authorised to make all necessary arrangements for procuring signatures to the memorial. Mr. O. Lewis said, from what he had heard that day, he understood that the Provincial Government had abandoned the i.Jea of collecting the poll tax. He had not derived tbe information from an official source, but from a very good authority. He would like to ha»e some distinct indication of the intention of the Government as to what they would do in regard to the poll tax. Having saved themselves from it, the poople ought not to button up their pockets and refuse to support the sick and destitute. If those who opposed the poll tax were not prepared to subscribe towards that object, he would abandon his opposition to the measure. He was sure,if proper steps were taken, there would be no difficulty in obtaining sufficient money for the purpose. Mr. Eastwood said if, after having ousted the poll tax, the people of Auckland did not come forward and subscribe towards meeting tbe requirements contemplated by the poll tax, they would lay themselves open to a great amount of obloquy. Mr. Graham said he had drawn up a resolution which, if passed, would doubtless remove a great deal of anxiety in the public mind as to provision for the sick and destitute. He would first move a resolufaon to the effect, "That this committee invites the residents in the country districts of the province of Auckland to co-operate in the agitation for the 'disallowance of ths poll tax." Mr. Eastwood seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. Field moved, Mr. Speight, jun., seconded, and it was carried, » That, while this committee feel bound to oppose to the uttermost the imposition of the poll tax, they at the same time acknowledge the necessity of providing for the relief of the sick and destitute, and pledge themselves, as individuals, to take measures for the organisation of a movement for obtaining public subscriptions for this end, provided that a distinct understanding be given by the Provincial Government that all action on their part for the collection of this tax shall cease." Mr. Speight suggested that it would bs advisable for the inhabitants of Auckland to call a public meeting, no as to evince their sympathy with tbe agitation against the poll tax. It might be urged, prejudicially to the movement, that the agitation was confined to the suburbs, and tha,t the town, with its wealth and influence, did not participate In it. After some discussion, the meeting adjourned until 7 o'olock to-morrow evening, at the same place.