THE RETORT COURTEOUS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 144, 20 June 1913, Page 5

THE RETORT COURTEOUS.

[to the" editor."]

Sir,—Just a brief reply to Mr Robt. Allan's epistle. He does not wish to call anyone a liar, which is very considerate of him. I stated that Mr Allan was not at. present concerned with rates because he got the same amount back for the use of the nightsoil pit. Mr Allan infers this is not true, and that he pays his rates without any deductions. Quite true; but why did he not go on state what he then received back from the Council? On February 2nd; 1906, an arrangement was put into writing between the Council and Ma- Allan whereby he allowed the use of his lands for the deposit of nightsoil as a set-off against his rates, which then amounted to about £6 per year. A further arrangement was made in May, 1910, to pay Mr Allan £20 per year, and that sum is being paid Mr Allan to-day. Mr Allan's rates for the past few years have been as fol-lows:—1909-10, £8 10s; 1910-11, £10 11s lOd; 1911-12, £9 3s 8d; last year, 1912-13, £9 6s 6d—so that Mr Allan is now getting back over double what he pays in rates. Yet Mr Allan, with his many acres, is one of the great protestors about high rates. Where does it come in? Mr Allan has been gradually reducing his holdings in theBorough; hence his rates have come down, although valuations in that locality went up, and that is probably the reason why he preferred-a set sum per annum, instead of the first arrangement of the set-off of rates. It has been a very good rearrangement, too, from Mr Allans standpoint.- I don't consider I stated anything incorrectly, consequently cannot see I owe him the apology asked for. If I did, I should willingly tender it, , pARKER