The Land Tax Question.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3420, 8 December 1879, Page 3

The Land Tax Question.

The Kangitikei Farmer's Club, 'under the impression that the Land Tax Act of last session was illegal and that the payment of the tax could not be enforced got the following opinion from Mr E. T. Connelly, a lawyer of high standing in Wellington:—

1. Is the Land Tax Act so framed that the Government can, it prosecuting defaulting taxpayers in the courts, obtain from such defendant the tax attempted to be collected ?

Yet; they can distrain, and even sell the land if necessary. 2. Can you suggest anything that would fairly enable a case to be tried in the court that would probably obtain a ver» detWor the defendant.

3., Can you suggest any means of legally resisting this tax in either of the courtß in this colony, or by appeal to the courts in Great Britian.

4. Will you in general give us your opinion as to the best course for us to pursue to resist the collection of this tax, either for a lengthened period or altogether ? ... I can recommend no course tor resisting the Act while it remains in force. If the feeling against the Act is general, I can only suggest that steps be taken io obtain its repeal. • 5. Is the Act in any -way beyond the powers of the General Assembly to pass? 6. Will it make auy difference in the legality of the collection of the tax that the Act sets out the tax shall be collected in two half-yearly payments ? No. 7. Is there anything in the half-yearly collection clause which will prevent the collection of the whole year's tax at one time P Assuming that the tax for two halfyears is due when the collection wa9 made, as was the cause on the Ist inst., I can «cc no reason why they should not bo v collected at the same time.

! A well merited repartee was dealt by a smirt midshipman to t!u« ilauy;hU'r of a " XC.8.," at a ball given by tl»« 'a-ti-r im the naval , olficers) on tho JST.tri.li Pacific station. Tho middy whs bold enough to ask tho yonntr lady to accept him for her partner. "Oh, (h>a.v, no!" said the 'supercilious brnuty. "Ma never lels me dance with midshipmen !" Somebody let her knnw that he was a lord, and she repented, and byeand-bye reminded him he was enijatjed to her for the next dance. The yonnester; ho>v.>vt.-i', was not so easily mollified, and, remembering the lady had native blood in her reins, smilingly replied : " Oh, dear, no ! Ma never allows me to dance with squawa!