Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 1901. CHARITABLE AID LEVY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 24 April 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 1901. CHARITABLE AID LEVY.

Our Hokitika contemporary, the Guardian, comments strongly upon the law relating to the Charitable Aid levy, and points out that it seems as if the Act was framed specially for the benefit of the lawyers, and not for the purposo of raising funds for Charitable Aid. It says:—The question is whether mining property which is covered by the Gold Abolition and Mining Property Rating Act is " rateable property " under the Hospitals andCharitable Aid Act. On the face of it, it appears as though it were, and this view is supported by some very high legal authorities, including Mr Martin, legal adviser to the Municipal Association. On the other hand it is contended that the mining property rate is a rate the striking of which is optional with local bodies to cover loss of revenue by remission of the gold duty. The gold duty was not liable to contribute towards charitable purposes, and the contention is therefore that the substituted rate is likewise exempt. This view is also upheld by high legal authorities and on it the Westland Charitable Aid Board is acting. The result is that the Hokitika Borough, in which there is little mining property is more heavily taxed than it would be were the Westland County Council and the Boroughs of Kumara and Eoss forced to contribute on a basis in which the mining property is included. The Borough of Hokitika therefore contends that the Charitable Aid rate as now struck is inequitable. The remedy provided by the Act is the appointment of a commission of inquiry, His Worship the Mayor contends that such a commission would be useless as its functions would be limited only to ascertaining if the claims were fair and reasonable, and whether the amounts demanded by the Charitable Aid Board were fair and icasonable. This, however, is (says the Guardian) not disputed by the Borough, which requires to know whether the Board has legally levied on the contributing bodies according to the rateable value of their rateable property. Two attempts have now been made to get this question answered, but on both occasions decisions were obtained on side issues. The question is again apparently to be fought out, and the Council is now considering the form the proceedings shall take. The Borough Solicitor has recommended application to the Supreme Court for a mandamus to compel the Board to include mining property in making its levy. This seems the more direct way and it is to be regretted it was not taken at first." The question is an important one and the sooner it is decided the better, especially as it is illegal for the Board and the Borough Council to enter into a compromise. What the Act really means seems to be a puzzle that would trouble even a Philadelphia lawyer.

THE CHINESE COMPLICATION, Affairs in China seem as little near settlement now as they were before the commencement of the present year. It is true that some few of the Chinese leaders have lost their lives and still more of the rank and file, but matters aro still very far from an ending. Indeed they seem to be getting more and more complicated, and it looks as if tbe Chinese Government will come out stronger than over. From the very first mistrust reigned between the Allies, and it is by tbe merest cbanco that instead of battling with the Boxers they are not battling with themselves. Russia seems to have been the only power that has gained any apparent advantage, but with all that can be said it is

questionable whether the, supposed possession of Manchuria is an untold advantage, especially as the Allied Powers have refused in conjunction with the Chinese Government to sign the ratification of the so-called Manchurian Convention. Such being the case, Russia for a time adopted a new policy in accordance with her old traditional course, and finding that she could not obtain free and unfettered control in Manchuria, turned round and endeavored to act as the friend of China in order to retain if possible her hold on the northern Chinese territory. The Chinese Government were not to be hoodwinked and are quite as capable at playing a game of bluff as the Muscovite. Finding this out, Eussia has again turned round and threatens pains and penalties if her wishes are not acceded to. Diplomacy has always been Russia's strong forte and if she has not succeeded in sowing active

dissensions between the Powers, it has certainly not been for the want of trying. According to our cables to-day, we find now that France has notified its intention of withdrawing 10,000 trcops from China during the ensuing month. May not this be the result of private arrangement between Russia and Frauce, considering the friendship that exists between them, in order to weaken the. power of the Allies so that confusion would ensue and Russia be able to foment discord not only between the Allies but among the Chinese themselves, and thus gain her own ends in Manchuria. The outlook is not a brilliant one and it is to be hoped that more satisfactory ari rangements may result to ensure peace in the East.