HARBOUR RATE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 August 1932, Page 2

HARBOUR RATE

(To the Editor) Sir, —Ratepayers were somewhat surprised to find by your report of the recent Harbour Board meeting and their advertisements in “The Mail” of the 11th August, that notwithstanding the fact that the loan had been reduced by no less than £17,000 the HnrlxJur Board rate for the current year is being actually increased, in spite of the depression, and this being one of the most difficult years for farmers in the history of New Zealand. How can the Nelson Harbour Board reconcile such, additional imposition upon the struggling farmers with their original promises to the effect that the purchase of the wharves from the Railway Department would not, mean any further taxation upon the land : and their assurance that the rate was only offered as security for the £65,000 loan and would never be collected? And now the Nelson Harbour Board have resolved to ask us to vote for another big loan amounting to about twice .£65.000 for the; benefit of the apple industry. If the harbour improvements suggested bo necessary only for the prosperity of the apple industry why not levy*the required special rate over such special rateable area as would reap the benefit thereof? Why impose such unjust taxation upon those outside such district who have no interest in the apple industry beyond obtaining cheap fruit to mitigate their sufferings these hard timesF The chairman’s attitude re the proposed loan was really funny. That gentleman was sure that the ratepayers would turn it down, yet he felt it his duty to incure the expense of a poll of the ratepayers, etc. . Yes, sir, one can understand Mr Price's altitude as reported in your issue of yesterday.— I am, etc., 11. G. BERRYMAN. Kohalu. 12th August.