ARREARS OF CITY RATE 9 VERSUS ARREARS OF COUNTRY RATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1399, 12 May 1868, Page 4

ARREARS OF CITY RATE 9 VERSUS ARREARS OF COUNTRY RATES.

To the Editor of the Herald. Sib, —Our city rate collector has again been hunting up a few defaulters, and as before, with his usual success. In fact, if I remember right, cur worthy Resident Magistrate said some time back, all he Lad to do when any defaulting ratepayer was brpught before him, was to order him to pay the amount. How very different with those in arrears in the oountry districts! In looking over the statement of arrears of the Whaingaroa district lately published in the Provincial Government Gazette, Iwe the names there of membeis of the Provincial Government, the rery men above all others who should-set the example to obey the Act, they themselves had assisted in making. Military officers also figure there, from whose posit ion in society we should expect otherwise, J.P.'s also ate to he fouDd there, one of whom; I have beard openly bragged that it should cost th« Board his rates in postage before he would pay. The arrears in this one distriot (although a distriot that willcompare very favorably with many others with regard to its arrears of rates), amount to aenmthat Would make upwards of.twelve miles of road; a chain wide through .the bush, and which would be themeast of inducing many to settle in, the country that are now deterred from doing so from the want of - roads. It is a very hard, case that the real hard-working resident; settler should be compelled to pay, whilst those that iiTe ten , times as able iO pay are .allowed to escape with impunity. And Ido hope, Mr. Editor, you will use your endeavours in advooating the speedy introduction of a "new Highway Act that will serve all alike.— lam, &c., ■ . A COUNTBT RATBPATBB.