SYDENHAM COUNCIL ELECTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12481, 22 April 1901, Page 6

SYDENHAM COUNCIL ELECTION.

TO THU EDITOR. ' Sir, —A politician’s assurance is generally known, but the assurance displayed by our ex-politician, Mr R. M. Taylor, at last Friday night’s meeting of burgesses beats the record. He calmly told his hearers that he had caused the drainage rates over one-half of Sydenham to- be reduced by about one-half, while the fact is that the reduction has been brought about by the •increase of the value of property in the sewage area, which has relieved the rural area from contributing as it has done for .many years to make up the deficiency in interest and sinking fund! caused by the sewage area .being unable to provide the necessary amount. Mr Taylor has just as much right to claim credit for this reduction as he has to the abolition of the rate for one year some years ago when he was not a member, the‘Board having collected more than it was entitled to d'o in previous years. Again, the rural area is only about onethird of the borough instead of one-half, the sewage area being about two-thirds ox the total ii) value. In this area not onethird of the streets have sewers, yet the whole pave the same rate. A few months ago the ’ Borough Council applied to the Board to alter its definition of this area so as to make the rate more equitable.- When th.n matter came before the Board ■ the Board, on Mr Taylor’s own motion, refused the request, and consequently the-bulk ot Dir Taylor’s constituents are _ still forced to go bn paying this most unjust and oppressive rate. Mr Taylor hae been a member of tho Board for many years, and never made any attempt to relieve the ratepayers in this area, and when the Conned attempted to do so he opposed them. ±he action he then took was on all fours with his action in connection with the sewage station, which he never saw in operation, and in connection, with winch he connived at the Board entering into a secret agreement with the City Council to prosecute his own constituents. , ~ One word for yourself. Can yon t-ell your readers why you reported the above meeting as being held under the auspices of the Burgesses’ Association, when you knew, or should have known (seeing that it- was called by public advertising of the Mayor), that the Burgesses Association had Sing to do with it? If the meeting had been called by that Association, it w ould probably have resulted, as others have Lie. in ho burge^W^^