1 citation

THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ANTI-DRAY AND LAND TAX LEAGUE.

17 May 1850, South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), page 3

…A Mr. Wells, when proposing the motion to form the League, said: “I have not paid, nor will I pay one farthing of either tax. I am prepared to become a martyr… This martyrdom, little or large, I will submit to; my friends will submit to; the entire of the thinking and intelligent farmers in my district will submit to, rather than be fleeced against our will, and without the franchise.” Wells proposed a big demonstration at the Government House. Mr. [William?] Parker reminded people of a successful resistance to taxes in Van Diemen’s Land a couple of years before . Mr. Sutherland brought up “the example of the heroic Americans in resisting the famous Stamp Act, and threw the tea into Boston harbour.” The example of John Hampden in England was also brought up as precedent. Mr. [Thomas?] Wilson said the he thought “[t]he best plan was [for the League] to subscribe ample funds, and defend any case in any district, in which the Commissioners were so ill-advised as to…

1 citation

ANTI DRAY-TAX LEAGUE.

5 June 1850, South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), page 3

…In June representatives of the League met with, and were rebuffed by, the Governor, who said that the tax was fair enough for government work, was necessary for the road improvements that people in South Australia had called for, and was supported by more people than opposed it. The representatives of the League restated their case, and, according to the papers, added: “if any property were seized upon for payment of the tax, that they were determined to resort to physical force, the consequences of which it would be impossible to foresee.” But a meeting of the league directly following the conference with the Governor showed there to be debate on the wisdom of threatening violence, and a consensus to stick to legal means for the time being: 14Jun 1850 Mr [Jonathan?] Norman submitted that their work with regard to the [petition to the Governor] was done… but they could take a step in another direction, and that was, that every one present should pledge themselved to take every means to the utmost of their power in resisting any measure the colonial legislature should pass that would be a tax upon land…

1 citation

ANTI-DRAY TAX LEAGUE. Thursday, 13th June.

14 June 1850, South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), page 3

…But a meeting of the league directly following the conference with the Governor showed there to be debate on the wisdom of threatening violence, and a consensus to stick to legal means for the time being:…

1 citation

ANTI-DRAY TAX LEAGUE.

28 June 1850, South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), page 3

…Later that month reports started coming in of people being summoned for payment of the offensive tax. At a meeting of the League, they tried to decide how to respond :…

1 citation

THE ANTI-DRAY AND LAND-TAX LEAGUE.

28 September 1850, South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), page 3

…In July the dray tax was repealed, and those who had paid the tax received refunds. The land tax, however, was still in force, and the resistance to it continued. Here is an update from a September meeting :…

1 citation

ANTI-DRAY & LAND TAX LEAGUE.

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

…A follow-up meeting a week later was also covered by the South Australian . Apparently the League were feeling the strain of funding a mutual legal defense. Excerpts:…

1 citation

ANTI-DRAY AND LAND-TAX LEAGUE.

19 October 1850, South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), page 3

…A meeting was held later that month. The South African Register was there. John Fisher went to court, defended by a lawyer hired by the League (confusingly, also named Fisher). The court ruled in favor of the government. An appeal to the Supreme Court was made, but “until that decision was received the League could proceed no further in the matter.”…

1 citation

MEETING OF THE ANTI-DRAY AND LAND TAX LEAGUE.

20 March 1851, South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), page 3

…At a meeting in March, 1851 , for instance, a member of the League worried that land tax resisters might be disfranchised because of their resistance, and that the long battle to gain a voice in government might leave behind those who had joined the tax resistance movement. But more determined voices prevailed, and passed the following resolution:…