WHEEL TAX.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 3, 10 July 1894, Page 2

WHEEL TAX.

Thrtie are very few people apparently aware of what the wheel tax is, or what powers local bodies have under the Act authorising the levy of such, but if the Taranaki County Council carries out its intentions with regard to it we fancy it will not be long before there will be what would be called a small commotion on the green. The chairman, at the last meeting, moved, " That residents of the Clifton County shall be exempt Tom wheel tax within the boundaries of the township of Raleigh (Waitara); that travellers and ratepayers of the Stratford County, south- of the Patea River, be exempt from wheel tax; that travelers and ratepayers of the Hawera County, south of Oeo, be exempt from wheel tax." This is rather an innovation in taxation, having a local body taxing ratepayers over whom they have no control, and the ratepayers so taxed having no voice in the election of such representatives. All our liberal laws with regard to taxation and representation are founded on the solid basis that taxation must control representation, but here we have a direct violation of all su.'h principles. We can understand tollgates as a means of making outsiders contribute to the maintenance of roads ; but if a inau should drive a conveyance which is classed at £5 per annum once a year into the Taranaki County, it appears to be monstrous that they should have the power to levy that charge on him. Yet, so they say it is. We fancy when the Governor's consent is obtained to the bye-law, and they commence operations, that the succession duties the British Parliament have been trying to stick on us, the taxes which caused England to loose her hold en her Americau colonies, and all such, will be as nothing compared to this from a local standpoint. The Taranaki County apparently has the right to tax the whole North Islund. If the Government would extend the harbour rate in that manner, there would be less objection.