THE POLL TAX.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3573, 31 December 1868, Page 4

THE POLL TAX.

To th« Editor of the Dailt Southern Ckoss. Sir, — The little discussion going on between the Provincial Secretary and Mr. S. Edger has called my attention to the fact that the poll tax is a still existing burden on the people of this province, and principally on those of this city. I have some recollection that in the early part of the session a question was asked »s to the intention of the Government to bring iv a bill to repeal the Aot of last session, and that no pledge was given on the subject, Now I think it well to remind the public that, in the case in which the measure was tried and supposed to be defeated, the only decision 'come to by Mr. JBeokham was that the Act did not give the Government power to enforce the tax for one year after the passing, and it would seem that we are now left v in the position of having this obnoxious tax hanging over our heads, aud capable of being enforced at the expiration of the year in case of want of money becoming again an ailment of the Executive. It is not fair if this be the position in which Auckland is left-, sul'j-ct to m drain of some £10,000 beyond the estimated limit of revenue ; aud 1 think the Government should be pressed to give a definite answer on the point, and undertake to bring in a bill if necessary. I am sure there are many who, while opposing the poll Ux as a faulty one, are by no means lndsposed to submit to a well-considered measure for equ»l taxation (in proportion to means) for the relief of the objects which the taxation of last session was professedly devised to relieve. — Yours, &c, Anti-Poll Tax-.