TAXATION AND RETRENCHMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9117, 27 July 1888, Page 6

TAXATION AND RETRENCHMENT.

A public meeting of the taxpayers of the W airoa Road District was held in the Public Hall here on Tuesday ? July 17, for the purpose of taking into consideration Mr. Withy s resolution for reducing the estimates by £100,000. Mr. C. W. Stephens, chairman of the Wairoa Road Board, presided. The meeting was a fairly representative one. The Chairman ,in his opening remarks, drew the attention of the meeting to ine cost per head of the population, it having increased from £1 13s about twenty years ago to £3 6s at the present time; and the only reasonable conclusion they could arrive at was that there was extravagance in the management of the affairs of the country. Mr. .Tames Bell, in addressing the meeting, said : While willingly I would support Mr. Withy, and accord all praise and thanks for his laudable proposal in reducing the expenditure as much as possible, etc., yet I think the " skin-flint committee " deserved the thanks of the country for cutting down and pruning all extravagance. There was pointed out to me in Wellington a dancing hall built on springs to the tune of £800. to the delight and amusement of those in power for the time being. The " skin-flint committee " are the best and truest friends the country have got. The greatest folly and extravagance that man is subject to is living beyond his means or income, and buying more than he has cash to pay for. Hence the country and Government are groaning under their indebtedness. and it will require wise heads and careful men to use the pruning knife, and set the house in order. Such I consider is the character of the " skin-flint committee," and their noble efforts deserve to be appreciated by every true lover of his country. Messrs. T. L. Stevens, H. Sutherland, W. H. Thorp, and others addressed the meeting, and were in favour of further retrenchment. •Moved by Mr. T. L. Stevens, seconded by Mr. W. H. Thorp, " That this meeting support Mr. Withy in his motion for reducing the estimates by £100,000, and that the resolution lie forwarded to Messrs. Hamlin and La wry." Carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close.—[Own Correspondent, July 23.]