WAITAKERE RIDING RATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20426, 30 November 1929, Page 16

WAITAKERE RIDING RATES.

Sir, —I was very pleased to react the remarks of Viscount Craigavon with inference to the abolition of all local nates in Ulster. It seems the Irish people|are very anxious to encourage people to |jtay on the land. What a contrast to ©me portions of this country. For example, take the Waitemata County Council. It has not done anything so-drastic as. that, but has increased the rates of .the Waitakere Riding another halfpenny; in the £ to cover a loan taken up in opposition to the wishes of the ratepayers, who were very much ovsr-taxed before. Some of them are now paying 10s and more per acre on their holdings in rates, to. say nothing about their mortgage interest. It is quite hopeless thinking this County Council will adopt such remediable measures as Viscount Craigavon mentions, but it might benefit by adopting the. methods of Mount Roskill Road Board and -the Franklin County* Council, and. make .a rebate of 5 per cent, to induce people W pay up their outstanding accounts. Then we in this riding might at any rate have a credit balance for our member to fix his side roads up so that farmers could travel backward and forward without having to always wear gum boots and use sledges to get their cream to the station. . : Ratepayes.