The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, APRIL 30, 1901. COUNTY WHEEL TAX.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 94, 30 April 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, APRIL 30, 1901. COUNTY WHEEL TAX.

The decision of the County Council to introduce a -wheel tax, and, at the same time, to insist on the use of wider tyres on vehicles, is raising a howl of indignation throughout the county, and protests from town and country residents are bound to be made against the same. Taxation in any form is disagreeable, but, unfortunately, -we have noWreached that state when it can be done away with. We doubt, however, the wisdom of the Council in placing this additional burden on the settlers, and we feel sure it will not bring about the result the members anticipate. The Council must, however, be given credit _ for having acted with the best intentions in this matter, and are to be commended in as much as they themselves are likely to suffer to as great an extent [as anyone else by the introduction of the wheel tax. As a body, they have sought to make the best use of the funds at their disposal, but, having always twenty shillings’ worth of work for every five shillings they have to spend, it has taken them all their time to get along. Alf new works during the last two years 1 have had to be set aside, and notwithstanding that the most stringent economy has been exercised, they have to-day to face an overdraft of several thousand pounds. Their efforts to borrow T -«w0 been unsuccessful, and the only , -«.u raise a little money apway they --induction bf a pears to be the iu„.. „ wheel tax. It is a matter oj. b . speculation as to how much they are likely to get by this tax. We do not see how they can raise more than from five to eight hundred pounds by the wheel tax, and the cost of collecting the same is bound to be considerable. The imposition of such tax will strike equally upon town and country residents, and likewise upon the natives, who are owners of a great number of vehicles in the country, It is only right that those who use the roads should be made to contribute towards the cost of their maintenance, and had the proposals of the Council stopped at that stage, no . great exception could have been taken to it. They have, however, gone a step further, and in insisting upon a certain width of tyres to be used on all vehicles have placed settlers a burden which they will in many cases be unable to bear. If the money, which will be required to be spent in changing the tyres to comply with the by-law could be devoted to the maintenance of the roads throughout the country, the latter would profit to the extent of several thousand pounds, that is presuming the figures quoted by Cr Graham to be correct. It is a wellknown maxim “ that out of evil oftentimes comes good,” and we trust that this may be the ease in the matter referred to. The discussion that is taking place with regard| to the Council’s proposals should cause a deal of attention to be devoted towards that body, and it is to be hoped that a better means of improving the Council’s financial position will be arrived at than by the adoption of this tax, which many regards as a step backward