CITY RATES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19724, 14 September 1929, Page 16

CITY RATES.

INCREASES OBJECTED TO. WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED. CITIZENS* ASSOCIATION DISCUSSION. Some strong and pointed criticism of the City Council was made at the annual meeting of the Citizens' Association last night. "In regard to our municipal affairs what do we find, or what have we found in the last few dayst" said the president (Mr H. D. Acland). "Our Civic Fathers have called upon the ratepayers to find an extra £22,000 for them and their officials to spend. This means in effect that there will be this amount less available for private expenditure. "The chairman of the Finance Committee of the Council has stated in dealing with the increase in rates: 'lt is only where the increase in the valuation has been in greater ratio than the increase in the rates that the levy was higher to the individual.' "This does not answer the question why the Council has struck a rate so as to increase the general rate by £22,000. Neither does it satisfy the pledge given by the Socialist candidates for the Council at the last election. On what particular form of civic usefulness will this extra levy be spentf "The old policy of the Liberal Party in England, namely, to reduce taxation and the cost of government, appears to be non-existent in New Zealand. In New Zealand successive Governments, whether in Wellington or in municipal affairs, take every opportunity of increasing taxation. The chief function of the City Council in Christchurch appears to be that of obtaining the maximum amount annually out of the ratepayers that can be obtained. In other words, taxation in general appears to be becoming predatory. This double charge constitutes an increasing burden upon the working or producing classes, and when a depression sets in then the proportionate amount claimed for taxation will be so heavy that the taxpayer will ultimately become unable to pay. "One of the drawbacks, of democracy is the fact that it is difficult to fix the responsibility for extravagance or bad government upon any particular individual." Mr J. B. Hayward, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Acland for his address, said that that gentleman had succeeded in exposing the extravagance of Parliament and of the City Couneil. Mr F. G. Dunn said that the rating question touched on by Mr Acland was a material one. It was bad enough for those at the top of the ladder, but was worse for those at the speaker's end of it, as the rates seemed to be going ever upwards. It struck him that the City Council's attitude was to see how much they could get out of the ratepayers and not,to worry about the cutting down of expenditure. He submitted that no attempt had been made to reduce the rates, which must eventually be forced down, and the sooner the position was faced the better. Mr J. Parlane said that ne " was not in agreement with Mr Dunn's remarks. He could assure those present that the committees of the City Council with which the speaker was associated did a good deal of work, and endeavoured to keep within their limits of expenditure. He was not in accord with those Councillors, however, who seemed to think that it was the function of tha Council to provide "downy beds for the inefficient." It should be remembered that any works provided by the City for the unemployed had to be paid for by the ratepayers. Mr J. A. Flesher said that unfortunately the Association members of the Council were in a minority of one, in consequence of which the Citizens' Association representatives were unable to do as much as they would like. One of the big mistakes of the Council, in his opinion, was to pay full award rates to unemployed men, in consequence of which a difficult position was created in regard to the City's finances. So long as this was continued men would flock to the City. Some of those engaged is seasonal occupations neglected to save their money for the lean periods and came to the City Council for relief.

Some time ago, continued Mr Flesher, the Council raised a loan of £25,000 for the relief of unemployment, j but it had not repeated the procedure this year because there were several Citizens' Association representatives present to voice opposition. Nevertheless the Council had not hesitated to use departmental funds for the purpose. While the representatives of the Association were pledged to keep down expenditure, they had nevertheless to vote for the expenditure of about £6OOO, ineluding £3OO for the Technical College promised last year, £SOO for the relief of the West Coast earthquake sufferers, and the cost of elections and of the electoral rolls. The law demanded that all municipalities must live within their means, and it was a good thing that such a position existed to-day. He would vouch that the finances of the Council were in a healthier position four years ago than since then. While the members of the Association had had to vote to meet the position he had referred to, at the same time they were making every effort to keep the expenditure down.* The attitude or the Mayor, however, was to formulate a policy and strike a rate accordingly. The speaker believed in cutting expenditure down to as low a point as possible, and considered that had he had his own way he could have reduced the rates by about £15,000. When a sum of money was voted to pnrehase machinery, he went on, it should be with the intention of doing with less men, but sueh had not been the ease in regard to weed burners recently acquired by the City CouneiL When he had asked Cr. F. E. Cooke (ehairman of the Committee concerned) if he would be able to do with the services of fewer men in consequence, that gentleman replied that three men had been relieved, but they had been retained for other work. More burners had since been purchased, but no men had been put off, although the work was now done more efficiently than previously. He was disappointed with the Council in that too many members talked to the newspapers. Business was often reported before it came before the committees, whereas it should be kept secret until it came before the Council in open meeting. The poliey of the Labour Party was to increase the rates and give employment to more men although they preached economy. There should not have been an inereaae In the tfcfe r — •# «■** tt — £MQO «*

£7OOO on those of last year. The new rates had awakened people to the danger of the position facing them and many had expressed their intention not to vote for the same crowd again. It was his belief that there wonld be a change over at the next Council election. Regarding the boulevard scheme, he asserted that it represented a waste of money. It was 50 years ahead of its time and the expenditare on it was due solely to the agitation of irresponsible people. How these men got the Council to agree with them he did not know, bnt the people would simply have to "gria and bear it." He reiterated that the trouble in the City Council was dne to the odd vote he had referred to and stated that whereas the present system of voting was brought m to give the Labour Party representation it was now used for their salvation. Giving instances of the recent increases in rates, Mr Win. Hayward ■tated that one increase had been made or from £76 last year to £lO4 this year and another from. £lO9 to £144. at those are not increases I do not *aow what im," fc« declared.