Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1867. LOCAL TAXATION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 844, 25 May 1867, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1867. L OCAL TAXATION.

Whether or not His Honor the Su : \ perintendent may be successful iv negociating the loan, it is generally admitted that local* taxation is an unavoidable evil. If, on the one hand, the province be placed well in funds, it must carefully husband its resources for the future ; if, on the other, the Provincial Treasury remains in its empty condition, there is no alternative than to levy taxes for the making of roads and the carrying on of other indispensable public works. In either case, Eoad Boards and other machinery for local taxation may not improbably become matter for legislation during next session of the Provincial Council. A vexed question in connection with local taxation — aud one which the Council will have to look boldly in the face — is that of tolls. Many of our readers will feel startled at the very mention of tolls ; nevertheless we fear they are, or at least one is, a stern necessity. The new bridge over the Ngaruroro has just been completed at a great expense, aud miles of approach to it, ou both sides, have to be metalled. The Great North Road, also, wants money . expended upon it j and must have it. Large sums, in fact, must be laid out upon both main roads from Napier to the interior ; and we do not thiuk it likely that, with land falling in value on all sides and with a greatly dimiuished territorial reveuue in consequence, the necessary funds will be available from any other source tb.au that of contributions by individual settlers. The question is, what shape shall those contributious take — that of rates or that of tolls. Quite possibly the latter — provided the amount so realised is expended upon such a basis as that the largest contributors shall receive the largest share of benefit — will be the least felt of the two, aud it will be so far au equitable tax that the burden of it will fall most upon those who make most use of the thoroughfares requiring to be made and maintained. The proviso, however, is one that must be insisted upon ; otherwise, the operation of toll gates would be exceedingly unfair, and their existence would scarcely be tolerated by the public. The local position of the toll-gate — for it is generally admitted that one will have to answer all present purposes — will be a perplexing subject to our legislators. The Napier members, iv particular, will feel a difficulty in voting upon this question. While, on the one hand, they cannot but admit a necessity for collecting tolls iv the .abstract i ou the other, they will, in the interest of their own constituency, have some natural hesitation iv voting with the ayes when the question comes plainly before them— shall we or shairwe not, have a turnpike at the end of the White Road ? For, without doubt, such a tax will fall very heavily upon Napier residents, who will be unable to leave the vicinity of the unhealthy swamps with which they are surrounded — to take au hour's carriage or horse exercise — without having to meet the mild demands of the Collector of Tolls. The tariff, however, may be so graduated as to fall lightly ou persons who leave town for health or recreation ; aud it must not be forgotten that a large ex* penditure in the immediate vicinity of the town is one of the first public works that will have to be undertaken. The White Road will have to be continued — the present beach road being in a very bad state at times of high . tide — and if, as would be desirable iv many respects, that continuation should be on the ridge of the Spit, Napier will for a leugth of time receive great advaufcages in return for its contributious, We have alluded to this subject not with the view of expressing aay preconceived opiuions of our own, but simply that the public may not be takeu by surprise when the subject comes ou for discussion iv the Provincial Couucil. This and all other matters want to be well ventilated before being decided upon ; aud to facilitate such is our sole object iv thus bringing the toll-gate question prominently before our readeis.