PARNELL AND GREATER AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15169, 7 December 1912, Page 9

PARNELL AND GREATER AUCKLAND.

Sir, —Mr. Briggs in yesterday's issue asserts that Parnell's total rates amount to 2s 11 3-5 din the £. No one denies that this is th€i Parnell total for the current year, but my point is that next year Mr. Briggs must raise his rates or else get his finances in- a muddle. The Mayor of Parnell, when he says Parnell's rates amount to practically 3s, conceals from his ratepayers the fact that his water rate of 4 per cent, is insufficient, and resulted in. a loss of £814 this year. Furthermore.; Mr. Briggs omits any reference to the fact that the special rate for the current year is short by 2d in the £ of the amount Parnell pays in yearly interest. , By exacting in previous years a higher special rate than was necessary the Parnell Council had at the beginning of this year £347 to the credit. of its special rate, so that they -were able to bring this rata down, from its normal amount of 6d to 34<1. Next year there will be 110 balance to the credit of special rate, and Mr. Briggs will bo compelled to raise his special rate to 6d., The net result is that if the Parnell Council rearranges its finance as any honest administrative body should do, the Parnell rates will not be 3s, but at least 3s 5d in; the £. I should mention that the losses! made on water rate, etc., have been mado good out of the general fund, which means the money has been taken- from tha streets. Next year the Parnell Council ! may elect to adopt the same wretched; policy of depleting the general account by the amount that the Council loses on water and special rate, but this spells starvation of the streets by £1200 a year, and is poor finance. Lastly, Mr. Briggs says union; means increased rates. The answer to this

is that I have, already guaranteed to the Parnell ratepayers that there, will be no increase on their present total rales. ,C. J. 'Pawl,'. December 6, 1912.

Sir, — canvassers are telling : fcha Parnell citizens that if they join the city on Monday next their rates will be raised 4d in the £. It should be made known that the Mayor of Auckland guarantees that we can come into Greater Auckland at our present rating. If, as promised by Mr. Parr, we can join the city without an increase in rates and get all the advantages of the city's endowments, tram profits, -water revenues, etc., etc., then tho bottom is knocked out of the argument of an increase in rates. Some people, however, do not stop to think, and it would be well to warn the unwary against the misstatements of these canvassers. ..•-,•■. .■-.'"-. ■:••.;-' . - Tutjth..

Sir, — the Mayor of Parnell be good enough before Monday to answer the following questions :—(1) If Parnell can join the city without any increase in rates ; and thus get the benefits of union, what advantage docs Mr. Briggs offer us to stayout as we are (2) The Parnell Council made a loss of £814 on its? present water rate this year, and £347 on its special rate; does Mr. Briggs propose next year to increase these ratea, or to make. up tht deficiency out of the general fund allocated to streets, as was done this year? (3) If,, as stated by Mr. Pan- and so far uncoiiy. tradicted, the city can borrow money at 4£ per cent., will the Parnell Mayor tell us what Parnell can borrow for? Has he any assurance we can get money at five per cent. ?

A. P. Friend.. 3