H.-32

Sess. 1L—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

ALLEGED INJUSTICE AND ILLEGALITY OF ENFORCING "THE LAND-TAX ACT, 1878" (COPY OF CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE), IN THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

Laid upon the Table by the Hon. Major Atkinson with the leave of the House.

No. 1. Mr. A. Shand to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaby. Sic, — Waitangi, Chatham Islands, loth August, 1879. I have the honor to forward enclosed, in accordance with a resolution of the settlers of these Islands, minutes of a meeting held here with reference to the enforcement of a land-tax in these Islands. I have. &c, A. Shand, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Chairman of Committee.

Enclosure in No. 1. Waitangi, Chatham Islands, 15th August, 1879. Minutes of a meetiug of the settlers of the Chatham Islands, held at Waitangi, date as above, convened to consider the question of the proposed enforcement of a land-tax in the Chatham Islands. Resolved, That this meeting considers that the levying of a land-tax in the Chatham Islands is unjust and illegal. That the Islands receive no due proportion of expenditure in return for the duties collected therefrom, such duties amounting to from £1,500 to £2,000 per annum, and being all collected at the ports of New Zealand ; the annual Government expenditure in the Islands also being under £500. That the inhabitants of these Islands cannot be called upon to assist in paying, or considered responsible for, the national debt of New Zealand, having neither participated in the receipt of, nor had a voice in incurring, such debt. That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, and signed by the Committee acting for the Chatham Islands landholders. Edwaed R. Chudleigh. Waltee M. Mooee. JOHANN GOTTFBIED EbQST. William Hunt. Diedeich Popen. A. Shand.

______-_^^_______-_-----------i i No. 2. The Undee Seceetaby to A. Shand, Esq. Sib,—- Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 24th September, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th August, 1879; forwarding the minutes of a meeting of the settlers of the Chatham Islands, held at Waitangi, with reference to the enforcement of a land-tax in the Islands. I have, &c, A. Shand, Esq., Secretary of Committee of Landholders, G. S. Coopeb. Waitangi, Chatham Islands.

By Authority: Geobge DidSbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB79. Price 3d.]