CITY RATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 210, 6 September 1938, Page 6

CITY RATES.

Please aTlow me to give -rent to my feelings re city rates. I own a four-roomed house in Belmont Terrace, Remuera, the rates for which only varied a few shillings above £7 10/ per year during the last 18 yean. Imagine mv surprise when I received this year's demand for rates totalling £10 13/2, aa increase of 40 per cent. Xow I ask, do you consider that reasonable? Nothing has been done in the street to warrant it. One cannot -walk on my side of the street in comfort because loose metal chips hurt the feet; the whole length of the street is the same. I expected to pay a little more this year, but 40 per cent increase is hitting rather hard. Another question, H the same increase universal? If so, the. City Council will not have to worry for funds to carry it over the present year, for where it collected, say, £600 last year, it will receive £1000 this year. Some rise, I call it. I wish I could get the 40 per cent rise in my wages. WORKER. [The citv valuer. Mr. P. F. Xotley, stated that there has been a general increase in the rates throughout the citv area, with a proportionate increase at Belmont Terrace, which is regarded aa a good, residential area. There has also been an appreciation of rental values obtainable in that locality.—Ed.]