LOWERING OF RATE NOT UPHELD

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21775, 6 May 1936, Page 19

LOWERING OF RATE NOT UPHELD

CRITICISM OF COUNCIL'S ACTION

SOUTH BRIGHTON PROGRESS LEAGUE'S DISCUSSION

By declining to support a suggestion made by the president, Mr J. S. Ainsworth, the South Brighton Progress League, at its monthly meeting last evening, showed itself to be not in favour of the action of the New Brighton Borough Council in lowering the rates. Mr P. Buist, a member of the league, spoke strongly upon what he considered to be the foolishness of the move.

The discussion was introduced when the president, who is a member of the New Brighton Borough Council, submitted a report in connexion with the rates to the meeting. Mr Ainsworth said that it had originally been moved that the rates be lowered, and that no construction work be carried out during the coming year, but it had afterwards been found that a sum of money would be available for construction works, and the rate had been lowered from 4£d in the £ to #.d. He then suggested that the league should send a letter to the council expressing its appreciation. Mr Buist said that he did not uphold the council's move, and he would not support a motion upon those lines. He said that if the borough was going to progress, and people encouraged to live there, many works were necessary. He thought it foolish to reduce the rates. The residents had been paying 4gd in the £ for some time, and it would not be an extra hardship to continue to pay it. It was all very well for the council to lower the rate to gain favour with the ratepayers, but if it were approached for grants for any" purpose it would cry poverty. The council would say, "We have no money, we've lowered the rates." To the ratepayers the farthing was neither here nor there, but the council would be able to do a considerable amount of work with it.

When the chairman ultimately asked the meeting if someone would propose a motion upon the lines which he had outlined, Mr Buist said "No, I won't," and the rest of the members were silent. As none of the members would move a motion the subject was dropped.