“THOSE BACKBLOCK SETTLERS”

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 187, 10 May 1928, Page 11

“THOSE BACKBLOCK SETTLERS”

gir,—I have read with interest two recent letters by P. J. O’Regan criticising the Minister of Lands’ statements re country rating and backblock . settlers, and in which Mr. O'Regan claims that the towns pay the greatest proportion of rates. 1 am not aware if his figures are correct, but assuming that they arc, would like to point out that the town ratepayer is provided with a hundred and one services which the country man must provide for himself, and by which the former is relieved of heavy charges which would have otherwise to be met individually. These consist of lighting schemes, sewage, water supplies, recreation grounds, halls for amusement purposes, tramways, and a host of more or less minor services. There can be no /objection to the towns and cities haying all these if they are pr.-p-red and in a position to pay for them, but there is a strong objection to the .■ charges being includeu,.when making comparisons such as Mr. O’Regau makes. If roads and bridges only, (which is all the country settler gets for his rates) —the intortunates like myself who have paid rates for 20 years Without a road nrny lie disregarded—were mused for comparative purposes ' the -probability is tint the town charges would ‘ :l ’, H’om 50 to 75 per cent. I’ossibly, fair, you can

enlighten me -and others interested regarding the reading costs of our boroughs and cities compared with counties, road boards, etc.—.l am. etc., BACKBLOCKER. [The following official information has been gleaned regarding road expenditure in cities and boroughs, counties, town districts, and road districts, during the year ended March 31, 1926: — Cities and boroughs .. £.1.,860,870* Counties ..... Town districts £74,065 Road districts £176,4687

♦Expenditure on streets and footways. ■[Expenditure on public works. More detailed information as regards local bodies expenditure than can be given here is to be found in the Local Authorities’ Handbook issued by the Census and Statistics Office.]