LOCAL BODIES AND DISTRESS FUNDS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 231, 14 September 1914, Page 4

LOCAL BODIES AND DISTRESS FUNDS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir. —As a country ratepayer I strongly object to Mr. J. Vigor Brown’s motion that the Harbour Board should contribute to the patriotic or the Napier distress fund, flic Harbour Boad is elected and raises rates for dealing with harbour needs. No reasonable minded ratepayer can object to the board spending e very penny they can in finding work so long as the money is not fooled away as it was on the East Coast Railwy work, inaugurated just prior to the general election, reckless as to whether proper appliances or supervision were available, the result being that the country’s money was squandered for party purpose s. We <on’t want another disgraceful exhibition of that kind. A itw days since the Mayor of Napier was voting away borough money to the distress fund. On Friday you report him as saying that the borough can’t do certain work because they have reached their bank limit. Is this kind of thing either businesslike or decent .’ The local bodies should give preference to married men or those with dependants. Single men can get work in the country if they are able and wish to work, and at a wage which they can save from a pound to twenty-five shining a week' if they choose to do so. If Mr Brown’s motion is carried it will do a lot of harm to voluntary giving. I nave given fifty punds. 1 have another fifty in my hands now to give, but I won’t give another penny if the local bodies take upon themsleves to give away ratepayers’ money. If taxes are required Parliament is the proper body to fix them. Let the income tax from property or any source be increased, tax liquor, picture shows and all the unnecessaries of life to the last farthing but don’t filch from trust funds.—l am, etc., BYSTANDER. Hastings, Sept. 14.