South Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1844 - 1851), Monday 7 October 1850, page 1


ANTI-DRAY & LAND TAX LEAGUE.

A meeting was held on Thursday last, at the White Horse, Currie-street ; Mr Alexander

Anderson in the Chair.

The first business was the auditing of ac-counts. For this purpose Messrs Wilson, Watson, Wells, and the Secretary, Mr Darby, were appointed, and, after retiring for a short time, reported that accounts for £33 13 6d were examined and found correct. This amount together with a further sum of £8 13 6d was passed and ordered for payment.

Mr Norman then referred to the prevalent reports that the League was about to be dis-solved. He was sure that such a notion had never been generally entertained among the members, as it would have been better they had never met than they should abandon their colors while they had yet much to achieve. But it would be necessary to act with pru-dence; they had given instructions to Mr Fisher to defend every case in which the Com-

missioners should sue.

Mr Wilson—No ; not to defend—the resolu-tion was that such cases should be referred to the legal advisers.

The Secretary said that legal advice was only to be taken in case of seizure.

Mr Norman observed that such an impres-sion at least had gone abroad. It was clear they could not afford a repetition of such bills as that they had just paid, which though very moderate as regarded the services rendered, was far more than the funds would bear on many occasions ; perhaps a committee might be appointed to decide what cases should be defended. He moved to that effect.

Mr Parker reminded the meeting of the re-sistance in Van Diemen's Land to the Dog Tax, and recommended that the course which which had been taken there should be adopted

here—that of suffering a single case to go be-fore the Supreme Court and thus settling the whole question in dispute.

Mr Watson seconded Mr Norman's motion. It was quite wrong that persons not belonging to the League should be defended from its

funds.

A conversation followed in which the con-

duct of the Talunga and Onkaparinga Commis-sioners was strongly censured and ascribed to private motives. Mr Norman thought it pos-sible the summonses were issued under the false idea that the League was defunct. Mr Wilson thought the question not worth agitat-ing as the Act was in abeyance, and the prin-ciples they contended for was virtually con-

ceded.

Mr Wells strongly objected to defending actions in the Local Courts. It was no tri-umph to defeat a summons on technical grounds while the principle remained unshaken. He thought Mr Fisher should be instructed to defend no more cases in those Courts.

Mr John Fisher of Gumeracha and Lyndoch Valley, mentioned that he had been summoned to Gawler Town for his rate, and had put in an appearance. He and many other settlers in the north were anxiously awaiting the result.

A conversation followed upon ways and means. It appeared that £80 had been al-ready spent and that some of the hundreds had not sent in the agreed subscription of £20. Eventually two motions were put to the meet ing—namely: moved by Mr Manful and se-conded by Mr Watson, "That the action against Mr Fisher be defended by the League," and an amendment by Messrs Wells and Par-ker, " That no expense be incurred on behalf of any person whose hundred has not contri-buted £20 to the funds-of the League." The original motion was carried on by a division by 8 against 2, and it was determined that Mr Fisher be instructed to take such steps as should be requisite to bring the case before the Supreme Court.

The Chairman mentioned that he was about to leave the Colony for a time, and would, therefore have to resign his post as Chairman of the League. He should always look back to his connection with that body with pride and pleasure. He also announced the receipt of £3 from Mr Steelforth of Moorooroo. It was not considered necessary to name a fresh

Chairman, as Mr Anderson is only making a

short visit to Van Diemen's Land

It was proposed that all hundreds not send-ing in the agreed amount of £20 should be struck off the list, but on the Chairman's re-commendation the motion was postponed till

next meeting that they might first be written

to.

Mr Norman mentioned that a memorial was

in course of signature in the hundred of Wil-lunga in favor of the Amended Road Bill, which many of the residents thought an im-provement on the old Act, and a great conces-sion to popular demands.

The meeting then adjourned till Thursday

week the 17th instant.