CITY OFFICES.

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 103, 4 May 1931, Page 7

CITY OFFICES.

"Ratepayer" asks: '"Is there anything to warrant the large expenditure incurred in having a City Valuer's office, at a total cost of about £3000 per annum? Seeing that all valuations have to come from the Government, surely it is high time that a substantial cut was made in this Department, if '■■ not wiped out altogether. . . . Also in the other main centres of New Zealand the solicitor's work is done by one of the.leading solicitors. .No doubt, if the same practice was followed here the burden of rates would be somewhat relieved." Replying to Alex Bell, who protested against the low rates levied in outlying suburbs, "Romus" holds that the principle adopted is sound. "Young people are barred from acquiring land near .the city, due to the high prices asked by owners, whose property has appreciated in value only by reason of the people ,as a whole. They are forced to go to the outer suburbs, where by reason of their homo-building efforts the city expands and prospers. It is manifestly unfair'-that they should pay the same amounts on their Jow-priced properties as is paid by owners, on valuable city sites." : '- ."Mr. T. JForsyth, who is a Civic League, candidate for i the City Council (writes Mr. John" Tucker), is reported to have s-aid that if he was returned to the council he would advocate a 5 per cent, reduction on all i rates, which would amount approximately to £30,000. If Mr. Eorsyth believes this can be profitably and soundly 'applied, why, as an old member of the council, has he refrained from advocating such a policy.?" "Esse" complains 'of tramway services which have .been discontinued still appearing on posted time-tables. The correspondent also asks questions concerning bus services: "Is it a fact that three expensive chassis have been lying in the sheds for some twelve months, and seem likely to remain there another twelve years? How many bodies have been put on one of them and taken off again? Have a couple of expensive hydraulic lifts been installed and never yet used? Is it not a fact that the old bus proprietors are, willing to pay a- substantial fee for the privilege of again maintaining, a bus service in Wellington?'.'