THE CITY COUNCIL AND EVENHANDED JUSTICE.

Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 70, 22 March 1884, Page 2

THE CITY COUNCIL AND EVENHANDED JUSTICE.

• TO THE EDITOR. Sir — I notico that defaulters are to be summoned, and perfectly right that it should be so. Eatepayers sbonld pay their rates, and if not they must be made so to do. This is only fair to those who do pay np ; but, then, how about the rents of the Town Belt that are in arrear? If it is just that rates should be paid, surely it must be equally just that rents should be paid ; and, if not, legal measures should be taken to enforce payment of the one even as to enforce the payment of tho other. But our City Councillors (with one honourable exception), who have no hesitation to summon a poor person who may owe say from ss*to 20s or more, havo declared by their actions that the wealthy who are lessees of Town Belt sections may owo four yoars' rent, and not be made to pay at all. That this is bo is proved by the whole Council, the Mayor included, refusing to second the motion tabled by Councillor Petherick to compel the payment of rent for four years owing by Mr. Beeves. Ail honour to the said coun-illor for his straightforward action during bia sitting at the Council table. But surely the other Councillors do not suppose that the ratepayers will forget this sort of unjust dealing, bnt will at tho next election hold them responsible for not properly carrying out their duty in collecting the Town Belt rants. I am, Ac, Justici.