MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1215, 14 June 1895, Page 19

MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Kindly favour me with space in your valuable paper for a few lines on the above subject. For a considerable period I have paid my rates and have been enabled to record my vote in respect to the various matters from time to time before the ratepayers. This day I called at the Exchange Hall to record my vote for a city representative on the Harbour Board. I found I had no vote, though paying more rates than ever I did before. lam at present paying them through the landlord. Three firms are represented in the one premises, and I suppose the landlord has the control * of all the votes, and the tenants pay the rates through the landlord. I am not going to bow-wow against the landlord, but I will protest against my manhood being insulted by my being deprived of my vote while I pay my share of the rates, though indirectly. Worthy Mayor and councillors, cannot you B bring into being a state of things more satisfactory than the present ? Cannot your 500-pounder thunder forth a legal bond that will burst up the present unsatisfactory condition of things to many of us, and give us all the encouragement you can to do our duty in taking an intelligent interest in municipal matters ? If he cannot, it would be as well, I think, if his retainer was withdrawn and five or six men were put on the very necessary work on the streets at the same expenditure. Five or six men employed in the place of one ! A good suggestion in the present state of the labour market. W hat say you, O worthy Mayor and Councillors ? —I am, &c., R. G. Knight. Customhouse quay, June sth, 1895.