STRONG PROTEST

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 38, 13 August 1930, Page 6

STRONG PROTEST

BETTERMENT BILL

"MONSTROUS INSTRUMENT"

EITEPAYEES' VIEWS

A resolution protesting strongly against the Wellington City Betterment Bill being made law was carried unanimously at a public meeting held last evening under the auspices of the newly-formed Wellington City Ratepayers' Association. The meoting-room of the Chamber of Commerce had its seating capacity fully taxed, and the speakers were followed with keen interest. '■'•'■' '•'

Mr. H; Miller, who presided, explained that the association had come into being because it was considered that something should be done in view of the ever-increasing burden of rates. Unfortunately, in one direction, the move was four years too late. It was possible that if the association had been in ■■'existences before, the rates would not have been raised to anything like the same extent. Mr. W. J. Gaudin. moved the following resolution: — "That this meeting of city ratepayers, having considered the proposals of the Betterment Bill now before Parliament, enters its strong protest against such Bill being placed upon tile Statute Book, the grounds for protest being: (a.) No municipality or public body should have tho power to engage in work for the common good and levy on the few for payment; (b) the clauses relating to the appointment of a board and the right of appeal are totally' inadequate to protect tho rights of property-holders, the proposed board being unduly representative of Government and municipal officials; (c) tho Bill is dangerous in that it would tend to encourage tho premature spending of public money, and give unlimited power of levy on private property; (d) khe ratepayer is.pnt in tho position of tever kaowing.-what unexpected charges may:^e ; -put:upon his f P™P«gJ (<g under the:provisions of the BUI it is possible-that a ratepayer may be sued fnimeaiateiyfor payment of unexpeced charges put on his land, and he, being 3e' to pay, may lose Improperly and the site of his business,' AMPLE ?OWEES AT PKKSENT. ':-TJi^principle °f betterment was no new^iy sJdMr. Gaudin It was m toco In* ther countries, and in Wellington itself to a limited degree. There were S*pWer«-;at present, he considered for the City Council to get all tho £ours£ was -a tedious and somewhat expeMiveibusiness, and the object of tha-Bill seemed to be to allow tho City S.uStO coileet the money very much S easily; cheaply, and effectively. The 'Bill-had" not been thoroughly discuteS m council er the ratepayers, ii w-as cLeivable that if it were made law and a Socialist council were in nower an orgy of street-widening and Sins might bo indulged in which wZd |U ga very heavy burden on the property-owners. Tho Bill Mas based on-what ho preinisod to be a wrona principle. It was highly questionSloihether the widening of-a street enhanced the value of property in tho vicinity. Land increased m valuo belause of the,demand for it, whether it was in a narrow or a wide street.

THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT. Mr Gaudin them proceeded to deal in detail with the statement made on MonSfby tte M»yor (Mr. G. A. Troup). Sainted out that the ratepayer was 5 a minority of one to three on the proposed board. An appeal would be allowed bW the restrictions were so great as'to render -it almost out of the question The Mayor's observation regarding streets 84ft. wide gave some idea of what might be expected if the BiU became law; Mr. Gaudin referred to Sir Troup's statement that with the _appHeation of betterment the replannig of Te Aro Plat would cost only a fractionrot the vast amount that would be required without betterment (Laughter ) It was quite obvious, he said, how innch of the cost would have to bo borne^by; the ratepayers. "Tins BiU » a monstrous instrument " he remarked. "It is ill-considered from tho ratepayers' point of view, and I consider I am only doing my duty as a councillor: in drawing the attention of rateSers;to;,it "(Hear, hear, and ap--1)1 Tvoice: "Who was the promoter of the Bill? Wo will keep it to ourBBKotter voice: '"'lt was John O'Shea." (Loud laughter.) ° Whin the Mayor asked that the motion concerning the Bil should be put through,-he-gave councillors ±0 undeisS that there would be full opporLnityfo. amend it in the council, said Mr Gaudin. It had gone forward to £liame*t, and unless "W^S^ done to show the Legislature that theio was a-strong public feekng against it ■it would bocome law, andthen it would be-very dif&cult to get rid of it.

TABANAKI STREET SCHEME. In seconding the resolution, Mr. H. Hart said' that the Public Works Act dealt with the principle involved in the Bill and he considered that such a Bill should bo of a national character, in such a scheme as the widening of laranaki street it did not necessarily follow that values would be enhanced. Ito purpose of the scheme was 10 provide another thoroughfare through the c ty, and it followed that those in other parts of the city would be ma tonally helped as a result. Why, then, should the major portion of the cost be thrust upon ihos9 in the immediate vicinity? Mr. Hart also contended that the Bill, if given effect to, would make mortgagees cautious in considering whether their interests would not be affected. No one would oppose the ideal of the city beautiful, but it waa a question whether Wellington conld afford to go ahejid •with the scheme while the vast metropolis of London had to mark time very carefully. He suggested that it would be advisable to arrange for someone to watch the ratepayers' interests_ before the Bill made headway in Parliament. Tho Chairman: "The Bill cannot Ik dealt with until Mr. Gaudin's rescinding motion has been disposed of by the City Council." Mr. Andrew Fletcher thought that any Bills haying such a wide scope should be brought down by the Government of the Day and not by a local authority. (Hear, hear.) Mr. D..G. Clark, president of the Civic League, said that he hoped the association would link up with the league. (Cries of "No.") A voice: "The Mayor is a member of the Civic League." The chairman said that the proposal would be discussed by the committee of the association.

After Mr. Gandhi's motion had been carried it was suggested by Mr. Cashman that the Bill should bo withdrawn until after the Mayor had called a meeting of ratepayers in the Town Hall. ]\Fr. Gaudin: "The position is that three''of. the' councillors liuvo signed a. motion to rescind the motion sending the Bill on to the House. That should have the effect of staying proceedings notfT the motion is dealt with." The question of rates was also dis-

cussed, and the following resolution was passed: "That this meeting views with concern Wellington's over-increasing rate burden, and considers that a drastic check is a paramount necessity. Those present pledge themselves to support tho association in the following objective: Curtailment of rates; no loans to be raised without the sanction of ratepayers; a diminution of expenditure on new public works." A committee was elected as follows: Messrs. H. S. Hart, Price, H. C. Gibbons, S. Harcourt, H. D. Bennett, M. J. Burke, F. Fanning, A. L. Johnson, H. H. Miller, J. M'Donald, A. Waterworth, Jl'-D. Sievwi'ight, L. Christenson, T.; A. Fraser, W. Madeley, J. M'Parland, T. M. Donovan, and T. Jobson.