Rates

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30172, 2 July 1963, Page 3

Rates

Sir,—-Mir Leov thinks property owners are the only people who pay rates, and evidently he does not know that everyone who pays board or rent pays rates indirectly. These indirect payments areincluded in the charges fixed, by the landlords, and this is why board charges are so high, especially in Wellington and Christchurch. Does Mr Leov want our roads' maintained by a turnpike sys-: tem with toll gates so that the users pay to save the ratepayers’ money? A reduction of rates will either mean a citizens’ tax or less service by local bodies. Which does Mr Leov prefer?—Yours, etc., DISILLUSIONED NATIONALIST. June 29, 1963.

Sir,—J. Bakewell is to be commended for pointing out what great hardships the rise of 10 per cent, in the rates has had on people on fixed income and pensioners. Since Cr. H. P. Smith, chairman of the council’s finance committee, has adopted the same old borrow-or-bust policy of our Government, we cannot expect much else, but when he takes £50,000 profit from the M.E.D. and puts £lO,OOO to, the town hall fund and £40,000 to the council’s fund it is another matter and high time the consumers who were' responsible for this profit had a say, I suggest that all consumers who do not support this arrangement should write to our council objecting, and after the council had received a few thousands letters our worthy mayor and chief magistrate must realise what a grave injusice had been done to the ratepayers of Christchurch. —Yours, etc., THE COLONEL SAYS. June 28. 1963.