RURAL DELIVERY TAX

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14773, 12 October 1921, Page 6

RURAL DELIVERY TAX

DIVERSIFIED OPtMIOK IS IT UNFAIR? WAIPA COUNCIL RESOLUTION. The proposed tax of £2 on persons enjoying the benefits of the rural mail delivery was discussed by Waipa County Council yesterday, when Or- G. Macky asked the Council to pass a resolution of protest at what he described as aa unfair imposition. The speaker said it was quite unjust to make farmers, because they of necessity lived in country districts, where they were engaged in actual work of production, pay to have their mail delivered, while townspeople enjoying all the comforts and luxuries of civilisation should have theirs delivered free several times daily.

Cr. Cavanagh considered the charge a fair one. The rural delivery was a great institution, and enabled people living out in the backblocks to get their mail daily, lie did not know what the farmers were growling about. Cr. Edwards said he only lived a mite from H! p Ohaupo post office, and ho would gladly pay £■> to have his mail delivered at his gate regularly. Cr. Macky. But look what, we pay in stamps also.

Cr. Cavanagh: You would have to pay that in any case. Cr. Macky pointed out lhe unfairness of the towns getting frrc delivery while penalising' the backblockcr. if Ihere whs lo be any increase in the charce il should be universal. Cr. Ellicott said the revenue from stamps did not enter into the question ul all, as this went te pay for the general handling of the mail and other administration expenses. For the privilege (if living in a town the people had to [iay considerably higher rates than the farmer. This fact should not, lie overlooked.

The chairman Mr 5. Reid'; said that in his district, (Tuhikarainea) two post, offices were closed when lhe rural mail was instituted. If (hey now refused to pay the tax lliey would probably get the post-offices back, and the upkeen nf these would h" more than the Governmeni would receive in revenue from the lax.

Cr. Cavanagh: But, how would you get. the mail from the post office?

• fir. Macky: Oh, lhe school children could colled it. fir. Cavanagh: But, everybody has not got "kids." 'Laughter.) The Council, with several dissentients, decided to protest against In: proposed tax.

Cr. Cavanagh: But we have no say in it! (Laughter.)