CIVIC AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 144, 15 December 1933, Page 11

CIVIC AFFAIRS

RATEPAYERS' MEETING

Strong, advocacy of a reduction, in rates was made at1 a general meeting of the Wellington Ratepayers' Association. Mr! 'C. A. L. Tread-well, the president, said the rates stood as an appalling monument, and it behoved councillors of the present.and for some years to come to budget towards reducing xates rather than to' provide extravagant improvements in the city. (Applause.) . It was ordinary plain business that tlifi money should be available- first of all for any improvements.!, . ' . . . Mr: Treadwell criticised the recent action of the City Council in passing a resolution recommending a restoration of, the cuts, imposed on Corporation'; employees. Another matter touched on, by Mr. Treadwell was the provision of tepid baihs. He ■contended that the expenditure of a large sum of money on tepid baths would be inexpedient-at the present time. It"'would be 'a 1 different matter if the city could afford them. Mr. Miller moved and Mr. A. S. Pike seconded the following motion, which was carried:— * "That this association of Wellington1 ratepayers again places on record the general demand of ratepayers that the policy of rate reduction commenced three years ago be again carried on; that the burden of rates, especially for city ratepayers, is a ■ great hindrance to industry and the business community; that this association considers it not.junreasonable that a steady reduction takes place during the ensuing years, seeing that in 1930 the demand y-aa increased by ~£68,000."