ST. KILDA AND AMALGAMATION,

Evening Star, Issue 16349, 15 February 1917, Page 2

ST. KILDA AND AMALGAMATION,

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—When the petition a ski tip; for a poll to bo taken on the question of amalgamation with the City was proa-anted, the 'Mayor is reported to‘have said '‘that he knew of six men in the borough who could influence the poll either way,” and followed this im with a 'betting proposal. ” Prodigious 1” _ The Mayer evidently has a very poor opinion of tho intelligence of the St, Kikha ratepayer:; but I would remind h.m that someone mors famous than he ir his six (or 600) has raid; ." Yon can fool the people most of_ tho time, but you can’t fool them all the time ” ; and when his henchmen, who had only arrived about five minutes in the borough, started out to toll tho ratepayers of all the advantages to be derived from that absurdity—i.e.. rating on unimproved value—they fooled the I people some of the time, but they know better now, and won’t be fooled 'all the time. * Reverting back to the tales told to tho ratepayers by 11 is Worship's admirers, and how it would work in St. Kikla, it seems a pity that he couldn’t induce thorn to repeat their tales to a few of tho widows and others who took up sections on the time-payment system, with the intention of some day building upon them; how they have been taxed on tho si;mo until they had to part with them at leas than cost price; or to tell tho same talc to others who wanted to make a nice garden, raid how they have been compelled to build thereon in order to escape Urn exorbitant rule that hat. been placed on them. Bring all these out and “ put up " your £IOO, your Worship. But is the ratepayers' opinion of the present scheme of rating the only meson for tho question of amalgamation being raised at the present time! 1 think not. Wji cn a council of men can refuse to asphalt a footpath, at a. cost of £2O, which was provided for in tho allocation of the loan money, on the ground that they had no funds, and at the same meeting' they passed £ls 15s for illuminated atkavsscs to three ex-councillors, it is high time that they were snuffed out, in order to prevent a repetition of similar misapplications of borough funds.—i am, etc,, Vkxui, Sav. February 14.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In the discussion that is bound to emanate in consequence of 453 electors of the borough of St. Kilda having demanded a poll on the question <>l amalgamation with the City the question of rating on unimproved values is likely to be treated as the main question instead of what it really is—a side issue. The Dunedin City Corporation is a wealthy body, possessing not only valuable endowments, but is likely in the near future to make large profits out of its manufacturing concerns. St. Kilda has no endowments, a large debt, and must for all time bs a customer of the City for all it requires, and has no share in tho profits. It is in the same position as a small tradesman bound to a wholesale house. It must take gas, water, and electricity from tho City at a fixed rate, and no matter how big the profits from tho sale of these articles, it will not participate in them. Whilst admitting that many mistakes have been made by past councils and the present council, ultimately the revenues of the Dunedin City Corporation will be very large, and consequently the rates will be reduced. My object in writing is to prevent the St. Kilda rntepa vers being led away from carefully considering these matter? before they vote by the supporters and opponents of rating on unimproved values. Tliis question will sooner or later have to be deckled by the City itself, and docs not affect the question of amalgamation.— I am, etc.. Moreau Street. February 14.

The Meg : st.ate : "Who was present when the prisoner knocked you down?" The Victim : " I was, your Honor.''