AUCKLAND RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9014, 29 March 1888, Page 5

AUCKLAND RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the Auckland Ratepayers' Association was held at Mills' Hall, Freeman's Bay, yesterday evening. There was a good attendance, much interest being taken in the proceedings. Mr. C. S. Wright was elected president, Mr. H. W. Farnall secretary, and Mr. H. Phillips treasurer for the ensuing year. The rules of the Association were adopted, and the following form agreed upon :— The present immediate platform, or object of the Association, will be to ascertain whether the present officials, officers, and servants of the City Council, are excessive or otherwise. Also to ascertain, by exercising their privileges as ratepayers, the extent of the city endowments, how they are lot or leased, the amount of revenue obtained from them separately, and how expended. It shall also be tho duty of this Association to authorise the auditor, in accordance with clause 170 of the Municipal Corporations Act, to take action in every case where they consider that money has been illegally spent, thus saving the individual ratepayer from taking action himself. It shall also obtain the fullest information of the true /alue of property in the various wards, and endeavour by every means to give justice to all who have to bear the burden of taxation. It shall also obtain all information concerning the present system of water supply used by the city, and ascertain whether it is contaminated by the sewage of tho city, or by slaughterhouses. It shall ascertain also the revenue and expenditure of the present water-rate, and see if it is legitimately used, and if it is found excessive, to see what steps can be taken to obtain a reduction in the present rate and charges. It shall also obtain all information as to the expenditure of the Charitable Aid Board, in order to obviate the necessity of the threatened poor rate, and to resist by every lawful means any increase of taxation. 1

Committees were appointed to canvass the different wards to obtain signatures for tho following petition, which is to be presented to the City Council:— "To His Worship the Mayor and Councillors of the city of Auckland. Gentlemen, —We, the undersigned ratepayers and pro-perty-owners of the city of Auckland, respectfully beg to call your attention to the urgent necessity that exists for retrenchment in the office and departmental expenditure of tho city. We would also respectfully draw your attention to the fact of there being upwards of '2000 vacant houses in the city and suburbs, and that it is in many instances impossible to obtain the rent of those now occupied, and moreover in all cases tenants have demanded and obtained great reductions in the rents formerly paid by than. We consider that it ;s the duty of the City Council to ease the taxation of tho ratepayers in every possible way by amalgamating offices, reducing salaries, and bringing the said expenditure within the limits of its income, with the view of obviating the necessity of any further taxation.—Wo are," etc.