ABOLITION OF WARDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12240, 8 April 1903, Page 7

ABOLITION OF WARDS.

TO THE 'EDITOR. Sir,III the discussion on the above question one very material point has been entirely lost sight -that is, that in striking the general rato the Council is not required to make the same rate cover every ward so that if the North ,md East ward members insist upon the law being complied with, as no doubt they should do, and the overplus retained, then in that case it does not follow that the Grafton, South and Ponsonby wards shall be left _to starve, lor being a majority they can give effect to clause 95 of the Act, which is as follows:—"111 divided boroughs the Council may make and levy the general rate separately in the several wards, and may do so in. such manner thai the rate made and le'.ied in any one or moro of such wards may vary from that in another or others." The effect of this is th it if the North and East word marchers have too much they can reduce their general rate to 6d in the £, or lees, which will suit their constituents, and_ the South, Ponsonby and Grafton councillors can _ have theirs increased to anything up to 2s in the £. Will they do so ? If so they had better toll us before we vote for them, and if not, how arc they going to carry on the works needed in those wards if they do draw off the surplus from the East and North wards ? — am, etc., A Citizen of No Mica:* Citt.