BURDENSOME RATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 152, 29 June 1926, Page 11

BURDENSOME RATES.

POSITION AT THAMES. INCREASE OF 50 PER CENT. (By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") j THAMES, Monday. At the Thames Borough Council meeting, the borough treasurer presented his estimated expenditure for the coming year. This calls for an approximate increase of nearly 50 per cent upon last year's rates, and has caused the ratepayers much concern. This large increase on what was last year regarded as almost a burden has been the principal topic of conversation among the residents of the town since the report was published, and the opinion is freely expressed that the time is opportune for the council to look into its financial position, with the object of curtailing expenditure as far as possible. It is conceded that the expenditure of the balance of £70,000 of the streets improvement loan could easily be postponed. The scheme to lay down in permanent materials the arterial roads from end to end of the borough is considered too ambitious, and beyond the needs and means of the ratepayers. Another cause for the increase is that several of the schedule works are costing a great deal more than was originally estimated, and it is maintained that the council should give these works their first attention. At anyrate public opinion here is that the rates on the higher scale proposed will place a large section of *he ratepayers ir the unenviable position of not being able to meet their "rating liability. The whole question is to be taken up. by the Ratepayers' Association, who will no doubt suggest that this town adopt the course taken by other towns, and generally find ways and means of curtailing local expenditure, thereby reducing the burden on its ratepayers. i