MR. ENTRICAN'S ATTEMPT TO IN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11366, 8 May 1900, Page 3

MR. ENTRICAN'S ATTEMPT TO IN.

CREASE THE RATES. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—ln your report on Friday last of tho Council meeting, it is stated that Mr. Entrican is to movo at next mooting, "That a poll of the ratepayers bo taken on a Bill empowering the Council to levy a sanitation rato sufficient to cover (1) tho removal and disposal of nightsoil; (2) the removal and destruction of refuse; (3) interest on the cost of destructor; (4) thorough sanitary inspection." Tho ratepayers are at present paying tho following rates and charges, viz.: A general, etc., rato of 2s, charitable aid 3d, library id, removal of nightsoil 18s, and also a sum for tho romoval of refuse, or a total of fully 3s in tho £ on tho majority of ratepayers. Ido not see the necessity of Nos. 1 and 2 of Mr. Entrican's motion, as wo are already paying for these services. However, the whole motion is simply an attempt to take aclvantago of tho (present plague scare to got the ratepayers to consent to an increase in the- rates. I daresay the preparation of tho Bill, tho poll of the ratepayers, and getting the Bill through Parliament would cost a sum sufficient to pay tho interest on the cost of tho destructor for a year. I strongly urge the members of the Ratepayers' Association, and all other ratepayers, to opposo this motion, which is another attempt to break through our legal safeguard. With proper administration the present amount of 3s in the £ is sufficient for our requirements, and it is quite as much as wo can individually afford to pay. How is it tho Council can make annual charges ovor and above the maximum 2s, etc., rate as fixed by law? I do not say tlieso charges are not necessary; but if they oan legally make thorn, why not other charges? And instead of promoting a Bill to give them further authority, we may have to petition Parliament to definitely fix a limit to their monetary encroachments. However, I fully expect the Mayor and a majority of the Council will defeat Mr. Entrican's little game.— I am, etc., Ratepayer.