WAIMAIRI COUNTY OR RICCARTON BOROUGH?

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17700, 28 February 1923, Page 12

WAIMAIRI COUNTY OR RICCARTON BOROUGH?

TO THB EDITOR 07 "ITK HUMS." Sir, —In connexion with the poll to be taken on Wednesday, 28th inst., for the inclusion o£ certain portions of tho Waimairi County in the Eiccarton Borough, there is a statement in this morning's paper, and the same statement has been delivered from house to house, pointing out the increase in rates that will take place in the event of amalgamation with the borough. These figures, though probably correct, are, without explanation, grossly misleading. . Whereas the county rates on capital value, the borough rates on unimproved value, so that the increase will be mostly collected from the owners of vacant sections. To the owners of the average quarter-acre section the Tates will, if anything, be reduced. So that, if a ratepayer can afford the upkeep of a large section, or allow one to lie idle, the difference in rates will not be a financial burden. It is almost an inevitable rule that improvements for the majority result in a detrimental way to a few individuals.

Unless the change is going to be burdensome in the matter of.rates, services rendered by the governing body .should be the first consideration. The parts concerned are becoming thickly populated areas, but the growth in population has been followed by no growth whatever in service to" the ratepayers. Parts of Eiccarton road, and also other streets, are in a disgraceful condition, and the county has persistently refused ,to asphalt and channel. It is with the greatest difficulty even that we can get the channels cleaned. The electric light service is anything bnt good—in the winter time we get an almost regular weekly breakdown, whereas the borough has an excellent service. A rubbish collection, I am told, has been instituted, but no effort has been made to notify the fact, and consequently it is as good 'as non-existent. Fire protection ia available to borough ratepayers, and has already proved of value. About twelve months ago a commission, after hearing evidence, recom-

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mended that part of the areas concerned should go into the borough without BOROUGH ADVOCATE February 27th.