THE SHILLING RATE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3199, 15 April 1871, Page 3

THE SHILLING RATE.

TO THE EDITOK OF THB LTTTSLTON THUS. Sib,—At the weekly meeting of the City Council on Monday, the 3rd instant, without any previous intimation, the question oi striking the annual rate was brought forward, together with two estimates ol expenditure, Ac., for the present year, and without giving severalCmncillors any opportunity of considering the matter. A notice of motion was at once moved that a shilling rate should bo struck. Against this, I, f»r one, protested, as I considered it was due to those who were ignorant of the intention to move the ahove notice, that they should have at least one week in which to carefully consider the estimates, and also what amount the rate üboold I was informed that it was simply a notice of motion, and that at the nest sitting I could, if I chose, oppose it by moving an amendment, or otherwise. You may judge, therefore, my surprise, .when 1 rose on Tuesday evening to move an amendment, t > fini His Worship rule'hat tl>e amount was definitely settled on the Monday previous, and that I could not e*en speak against it. I then remarked that in.that ease I could only make my Views known through the public Press, and now, if you will kindly allow me space, I will proceed to do so. My object in moving an amendment was this : that, having to view the fact that we shall be comp lied to borrow money during the year for drainage purposes, which will necessitate the striking of a special rate to provide interest and sinking fund, X deemed it to be tne duty of the Couni.il to make the I ordinary rate as low as possible, and I therefore thought that a rate of ninepence in the j pound would have sufficed for the present i year, fof ordinary purposes. A' d these are my reasons for so thinking : I And the income of the Council for this year, with a shffllpg'rate, -will bB about £B\ .oo j or, with a mnepenny rate, about £4900. Now, the current expenses for lighting the city. Are prevention, salaries, clearing watercourses, and allowing akont £503: for several small expenses, would still- leave nearly £BOO6 for public works. Of-course, I shall be told that I have left out the cost of the labour gang. True; I have doneao because I consider tnat for the £ISOO or Auoo per annum we pay them; together with the surveyor to look after them, we get" no .adequate return j> ana 4 believe, by letting the same work by contract, itwonld be done for about half the money, and still leave £IOOO for repairing and metalling new streets, &c. If anything of a permanent nature in the shape of drainage is to be done, it will >ake a sum requiring a special rate of at least 9d in the £, thit, with an ordinary rate of 9d, will make Is 63, betides watering and, perhaps, fcavengerlng rates. Now, I am of opinion that Is Sd in the £ will be the very utmost that nine-tenths of the citisens can afford, considering the enormous' taxes we have to pay*

which, I believe, are more than in any other country in the known world. —A*.remark was made, in the Council on Tuesday, via,, “What isa shillingfateT . Why, iu Dunedin, they pay 2s 6d.” Now, as Btrawi Bhow''which way ths wihd blows, I caution the ratepayers to be exceedingly careful whom they retina at next deletion in September, otherwise they may tome day have cause to rue-thelr neglect. It may be all very well tor a few independent tradesmen, to whom a cheque for £SO is a mere bagatelle, to go in for so ! many improvements anda ■ heavy rate, but 1 cannot think, that a Tayge of the citizens wish for it. I would say, in conclusion, that T find there is a minority in tbs Council who wish to go in for reform, but, so long as the ratepayers see fit to elect certain old identities, no reform will ever take place ; ahd it is simply a farce to return- nine members, where five are determined to have their own way. All new councillors are supposed to hear all, and say nothing, but sit with open mouths, and listen to the astute wisdom of those sage gentlemen who must know hatter than any young, inexperienced men can do—notwithstanding the advantages which nature or education may have conferred upon them. I fear I shall be voted impertinent, at the very least, but so long -as I occupy a seat in the City Council I mean to act perfectly independent, and, if I am thwarted from expressing my opinions in one way, I shall not be long, before I seek another. Tour obedient servant, FEED. HOBBS.