ABOLITION OF WATER CHARGES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxii, Issue 6434, 29 November 1904, Page 2

ABOLITION OF WATER CHARGES.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sin,-—The decision of the County Council to abolish the water charges in the county and substitute in place thereof a general rate of one farthing in the £ should commend itself to all fair-minded ratepayers. I noticed by your report of the last meeting of the County Council that all those Councillors living within the vicinity of the ranges, opposed the adoption of the new system of taxation, on the grounds, presumably, that 'he rate was not equitable. At the same meeting Cr. Harrison, who, by the way, is a most energetic worker in the interests of these whom he represents, urged upon the Council the demands of the Mayfield people for a bridge over the Hinds, payment for which must come out of the general fund of the Council. It is doubtful whether a ratepayer residing b'eloiy the railway line would use this bridge opce in a year ; yet Cr Harrison expects one and all to indirectly contribute to this construction and its subsequent maintenance. The water race system is placed on an identical basis, and if the settlers near the hills do not derive the greatest benefit from the water, it has unquestionably enhanced the value of their land and conferred indirect benefits of which they must be cognisant. It would be difficult to apportion the maintenance and*the extension of the water race system on a more equitable basis and the committee who submitted the proposition to the Council are deserving of the thanks of those ratepayers who have been unduly taxed ft a number of years past for a bene? fit from which the whole of the county has profited.—l am, etc., Equity,