TOWN AFFAIRS.

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 268, 31 December 1870, Page 5

TOWN AFFAIRS.

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express.

Sir, —Allow me through your paper to correct a statement purporting to he a statement of fact, made by Mr. Councillor Robinson at the last meeting of the Borough Council. Your report says that Cr Robinson “ reminded them (the Council) that they were now out of debt * * * having cleared off all the liabilities of the old Board.” Now, this is not true, for the old Board —or rather the Town, for the Board or Council is but the Executive—was in debt the sum of £7B 16s. due to thirty-eight persons who, under threat, paid that amount in error. These persons paid, believing they were paying a rate, hut the Court of Appeal decided that the so-called rate was bad in law, in fact no rate. The town still owes this money to these thirty-eight persons ; owes it as clearly as any storekeeper would owe a sum to anyone who had paid to him a sum for which the said person was not liable. The so-called rate was no rate. The payment was therefore a payment made in error, and as such all respectable business people would be prepared to account for it honorably. Had the so-called rate been a rate in reality, the Council acting under the sixth clause of the first part of the Municipal Corporations Act, would have collected the arrears of it. But the Council has not done so ; 1 presume, therefore, that shey regard the so-called rate as no rate. That being the case, it must be quite clear to the Council, and everybody < Ise, that the Town must be in debt to those persons who paid money in to the Town account, for which they were in no way liable. If the Town hooks are produced, they will show what I say is true. They show £7B 16s. standing to the credit of these thirty-eight persons, and no liability on the other side. Then how can anyone say that the Town is out of debt ? I am sorry to take up your space again with this matter, but so palpable an untruth ought not to go uncontradicted. Under the Municipal Corporations Act the Council is under obligation to balance the Town Accounts, and all I ask is, balance the account and settle. I am, &c., Geo. Henderson, Blenheim, Dec. 29, 1870.