RATEPAYERS, ATTENTION!

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 1, 1 July 1912, Page 3

RATEPAYERS, ATTENTION!

10 THB XtttTOßr Sir, — The attempt on the part of four memhers of the City Council to raise the rates in the city should be i carefully remembered. At the present time we are rated heavily enough in all conscience. Not only so, but notwithstanding disclaimers to the contrary, the amount paid in rates by the citizens has persistently increased. How often have we been told by sapient, councillors that the increase would only prove temporary. ' No ratepayer will contradict me when i say that once the council levies additional taxation, it never retraces its steps. The temporary rate becomes permanent. Messrs. Fletcher, Fitzgerald, Hindinarsb, and Smith, supported the increased rat-. Do these gentlemen imagine that the rates are paid by the landlords? If so, they are egregiously mistaken. The landlord 6imply passes the rate on and the tenant pays. How can it be otherwise? The humour of the situation is to be found in the fact that Councillors Fletcher, Hindmarsh, and Fitzgerald pose as friends of the working man. The remarkable advice given by Councillor Fitzgerald to his colleagues, when the matter was under discussion, should also be remembered According to the published report he6aid that flimsy promises made to the electors about the non-raising of rates should not be considered % binding. It is to be noted with satisfaction that this Jesuitical advice was not adopted by the council. It is very clear, however, that if the ratepayers <lo not bestir themselves we shall find councillors raising 1 the rates for all sorts of purposes. It is high time that a property defence association was formed in Wellington, having for its object the election of men to tha council who will appreciate the fact that what is wanted is prudent management, prevention of waste, and not an increase in the rates. — I am, etc., VIGILANT.