To the Editor of the "Norta-Cama Dairy News."
Srr,—At the meeting of the Civic League on Monday, one of the points on which the two speakers were agreed—and probably most of their auditors also—was that taxation should carry with it some form of representation. Perhaps one may therefore be excused for raising the question as to whether the large increase in taxation about to be demanded from those living beyond Settlement limits is going to provide for any representation in the way of franchise, at least for those who would be eligible if their habitation was within the Settlement instead of only on its extended roads.
Even when we were taxed at only half the amount paid by others, it ought to have been possible to find some means whereby the large number of "extension" residents might have been more or less articulate. But now that we are to be assessed at the same rate as were those within the Devliement a year ago, and almost the same as the highest rates now prevaiung—tue Council apparenuy granting tnat possibly we won't Lave all ne iaciuiies and berents, waicn may account for the Zper cent, ditterence—surely we ought Lo be eniranchised. svemember we have not been consulted about this increase, and have no means of discussing it at all, except through the Press. We are not able to attend the ratepayers' meeting to ask that the Council's letter be made plain; is the 12 per cent. going to be demanded of all " extension" residents, or only those who "take their lighting and water supplies, and who are connected to the telephone service!" 1f all three connexions are required to qualify for the privilege of paying the 12 per cent., then the number affected will be of moderate proportions, and one can imagine that the Telephone Ca. will lose business, and the S.M.C. servants will have extra work trying to keep track of the connectings and disconnectings of phone service, to know who should pay which rate of taxation.
I hope it may be taken for granted that, as an elementary measure of justice, foreign householders who are going to be called upon to pay 12 per cent. taxation are going to be given the franchise at the same time; but as such is not stated in the letter of the Council, attention should be drawn to the matter at once, so that we who have now no votes may feel that we are being duly recognized, not only as sources of revenue to be tapped when convenient to the Council, but also as residents who are interested in municipal affairs, and who have the democratic instincts of the age, and a desire to have a say in our own local governmen'.
T am, etc., Shanghai, March 30.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.