OPPONENTS OF THE LOAN

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 68, 17 September 1927, Page 8

OPPONENTS OF THE LOAN

Writing as one of a number of ratepayers who interested themselves in opposing the loan poll, Mr. T. W. M'Donald gives the following reasons for their action:— •

(1) That we resented the attempt by, using a voting paper with one issue only on. it, instead of a separate issue for each work, "to force the ratepayers to vote for all the works or none of them, and thus if we approved one work and disapproved the others, were forced to vote for what we did not approve in order to have carried that which w» did approve.

(2) Ratepayers generally disliked the policy of tha council of recent years, and for Thursday's poll, of carrying: out street maintenance works out of capital expenditure (loan moneys) secured by a special rate instead of out of revenuo from the general rates. The objections were accentuated by tha statements of councillors that considerable savings to the maintenance fund had in the past been effected, and would again be so, if Thursday's loan had been approved, and at the same time they took credit to themselves because tho general rate had not been increased, whereas on their assurances the general rate should have been credited with aa amount equal to the cost of the loan intended to relieve maintenance and the rate reduced accordingly. Whereas, in, spite of the enormous relief to maintenance admitted, the general rate has remained the same as it was when all the work now done out of capital (loans) was done out of general rata revenue. • '

(3) The ratepayers are concerned at tho suggestion by the Mayor and councillors to induce the Government to revaluo the city lands, as they fear that the council intends to take advantage of such increased value to exact from, the ratepayers a greatly increased amount of rates, by keeping the. rate in the pound as it is for the present valuation, and shelter themselves be^ hind the Government. Instead «f this the council should reduce the rate in the pound*so that.it will produce that same revenuo as now, and if more ordin.ary expenditure is necessary, the courtcil should adjust the rate in the pound and'enable the electors to deal with them for it at the next election. (4) The ratepayers objected to • an increase of rates at the time when the Hospital rate has been considerably increased and the Government it' in^ creasing the income-tax, and SfagK jUDfflf .axa bad. '" r- -~~-