RATEPAYERS' BURDENS.

Auckland Star, 2 January 1931, Page 6

RATEPAYERS' BURDENS.

A WAITEMATA COMPLAINT. (To the Editor.) The Waitemata County Council increased •its rates for the current year. It now circularises ratepayers asking; for an early payment to permit of the engagement of unemployed men under Government subsidy. If the development of building sections in the Titirangi riding is the sort of use to which the rates are to be put, the Government will be well advised to see that its subsidies are used for the good of New Zealand and not for local improvements which will benelit nobody but speculators. The outer ridings of this county were revalued some time ago. Valuations in many cases were increased without any apparent justification. Revaluation of the Titirangi riding was promised. Considering that properties will not sell at prairie value just now, is the Government afraid to continue its experiments in guessing at real values? Or, as an aid to understanding the obscure situation, is the County Council prepared to publish a list of those properties which have been revalued by individual request? If so io might explain why the complete revaluation of the county has not been insisted on. It is about time, that ratepayers' interests were properly considered. This, is a general outcry at the present time. Local bodies should be above secrecy and Star Chamber methods, and they should do their utmost to defeat the "slimuess" of the larger breeds "within the law." COUNTRY FIRST.