RATEPAYERS ASSOIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6936, 9 February 1884, Page 5

RATEPAYERS ASSOIA TION.

I A mektino of ratepayers was convened to be held yesterday evening, in St. James's Hall, ! for the purpose of forming an Association of Ratepayers, with tho avowed object of bringing the pressure of general opinion to bear on :the City Counoil in' its deliberations with respect to the expenditure of public money. The weather, however, • was extremely unfavourable, a steady downpour of rain continuing duriag i the greater, part of the afternoon and evening. .At the time fixed for the meeting there were not more than about twenty ratepayers present. Mr. William Thorne, solicitor, drew the attention of those' present to the unpropitioua character of the weather, and suggested that the meeting should be adjourned. Mr. Warburton expressed a•. similar opinion. An informal discussion followed as to the general scope and. object of euoh an association. Mr. Warburton said it was well known that large sums'were expended on some streets while others were left unformed, notwithstanding that.the owners and occupiers in fheso neglected streets had to pay rates while getting no benefit. The fair and impartial distribution of public expenditure taken from the rate.funds (general or special) wae a question for the ratepayers to consider. Uciair and unequal distribution of the funds was not only a hardship and injury to property owners and occupiers, it was an injury to those who were not property holders, inasmuch as it delayed or prevented individual enterprise and operated to the depreciation of property in neglected localities, The same observations applied to water-supply. There was. not likely to be much regard, in the fjity Council for the opinion, of the general body of,the ratepayers so long as there was/ no organised medium to bring that opinion to bear upon its deliberations. Mr. Ryan suggested that a " provisional " committee shonld be formed for the purpose of convening another, meeting and settling the preliminary, questions which should be referred to it; and to form the basis pf the proposed .association; The proposition met with general approval from those present, and .the, follow_ing w provisional committee was nominated :—Messrs, Batty,, Hughes, Adams, Thorne; Warhnrton, Byan, and Bell. It was recommended that tHo Provisional Committee shonld take the necessary steps tpgive't&e, proposed meeting and the general movement- the fullest publicity. IA. meeting of ,ihe TtroVisi onal'Committee was* held for the purpose of .considering the matters referred them after the ratepayers present had dispersa»i. ' ,!• ■/,'.