LOCAL BODIES AND CHARITABLE AID.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10520, 13 August 1897, Page 6

LOCAL BODIES AND CHARITABLE AID.

Copies of the following petition to Parliament have been sent by the Otamatea County Council to each of the counties in the colony :—

"The petition of the undersigned ratepayers and others in the colony of Now Zealand humbly sheweth:—l, That the demand for charitable aid throughout the colony is increasing year by year. 2. That tho present unfair system of nearly 50 per cent, of tho revenue required for charitable aid purposes being a direct tax on the land presses very heavily on those who live by the land. 3. That capital invested in almost any other pursuit but land, and land improvements, entirely escapes charitable aid taxation. 4. Your petitioners would humbly pray that your Honourable House at the present session would, by legislation, enact that the whole of tho revenue required for charity purposes should be a charge on the consolidated funds of the colony, so that every person in the colony would then contribute an equal share towards the unfortunates who require relief."

The petition was fully discussed at the last meeting of the Waitemata Council, and the proposed change in the method of taxation was generally approved. After considerable debate, the following resolution was carried by 5 to 2, on the motion of Mr. Mackay, seconded by Mr. Sinclair:-" That this Council approves ot the proposed change in the incidence of taxation for charitable aid purposes." Mr. Brace, the Chairman, strongly dissented, and Mr. Reynolds asked further time for consideration. It was also resolved that each member of the Council who voted for the resolution should obtain signatures to the petition,