“Civic Expenditure”

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 66, 11 December 1930, Page 13

“Civic Expenditure”

Sir—ln your issue of Saturday last you give a picture of the proposal to utilise the site at present occupied by the Public Library and Education offices as a reserve, and to put a new front on to the Town Hall. You state that tins scheme is suggested as tin alternative to the City Council’s proposal to create an open reserve to the east of the Town I ask what is the cost of the proposed scheme and whether the ratepayers are to be consulted as to the expenditure of so large a sum? Year by year the rates climb higher and higher, and incomes grow less and less. Large sums of money are expended without the sanction of the ratepayers. This is not right, and I cannot understand those who have to foot the bill taking no action to curtail expenditure. It is generally acknowledged that the whole country is passing , through a time of depression, and our exports have produced many millions less than they did a few years ago, consequently the spending power of the people is proportionately less. This is not a time to undertake elaborate schemes such as are now proposed. The council should onlv expend what is absolutely necessary, and have some consideration tor the ratepayers, who, I consider, are very much to blame for not publicly protesting-! am, etc., RATEPAYER. Wellington, December 2.