THE RECENT ST. KILDA AMALGAMATION POLL.

Evening Star, Issue 19063, 5 October 1925, Page 2

THE RECENT ST. KILDA AMALGAMATION POLL.

TO THE KDITon. vSir, —The result of tlio recent St. Kilda amalgamation poll was a foregone conclusion. The matter wan treated ns entirely one of rates. The controversy showed plainly enough that a largo number of St. Kilda ratepayers are paying very low rates, while a smaller number are being victimised by having to pay more than their share. Several times it was stated in newspaper correspondence and elsewhere, that those paying high rates could well afford to do so. The statement illustrates the fundamental error of St. Kilda’s system of rating. Ratos are not faxes. Rates are the means of collecting payment for the various services rendered by the local body, and should bo proportioned to the amount of those enjoyed. Sections in such localities as Ings avenue, for instance, are valuable, and in coiisequencb have to pay high rates, while properties further over, in the m ida le of the Flat, being much lower and less valuable, pay one-half down to one-fifth of the rates, although the services rendered their occupiers are the same, and the cost of drainage is more. This is grossly unfair, 1 know of one property of an ordinary-size section on which the Government valuation (unimproved) has been increased to such an extent that the rates are now over £4O per annum—a ruinous charge. > The trouble is that the circumstances are such that under the present system the victim has no hope of redress. Compared with city rates this ratepayer is paving about twice as much as he should, say, £2O too much. No ratepayer in St. Kilda is paying £2O too little. His overcharge is bong, in effect, divided among a number of others. When it comes to a poll, he is, in consequence, hopelessly out-voted. It is the concei'n of every honest man thattills wrong should ho righted. The victims have’ a remedy. , . Practically all tlio higher unimproved values in St. Kilda are grouped at the St. Clair end. The first blocks from Forbury road contain nearly all those ratepayers who are unjustly treated under ‘the present system. Some years ago, before Anderson Bay amalgamated with the city, a movement was commenced to cut off Tainnl from Anderson Ray, and join It to St. Kilda. The movement would have been successful, but that St. Kilda did not think it cood enough. What is to prevent tins over-rated part of St. Kilda from commencing an agitation for its severance from St. Kilda, and inclusion in the City of Dunedin P .The present Government is strongly in fanny of amalgamation. It is now recognised both m town and country that small local bodies are an obsolete nuisance. In the North Island there is a strong agitation to compel small counties to amalgamate, so that competent resident engineers can he employed, and adequate plant owned and worked. Practically all the people in the area mentioned earn their living in the city; manv are city ratepayers. i There is little doubt that the city would be sympathetic, and would raise no difficulties, am, etc., Fairplay. October 3, 1925.