THE CITY RATING SYSTEM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20704, 30 April 1929, Page 9

THE CITY RATING SYSTEM.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Your correspondent, “ Manufacturer,” in this morning’s issue states, if I understand him aright, that Mr John M'Donald will, if he is elected Mayor of the city, devise a scheme whereby £1,000,000 will be raised and spent without the rates being increased. I do not remember Mr M'Donald having explained this scheme in any of his many manifestoes or letters, and, as we are all still waiting for the burst of prosperity and a bit of the £70,000,000 promised us by Sir Joseph Ward, I, for one, am a bit chary about these secret schemes. As a matter of fact, the wild statement by “Manufacturer” anent the inevitable raising of rates unless Mr M'Donald is elected is, of course, all moonshine, and on a par with the number of other bogeys raised by his favourite candidate. However, in .iew of this correspondent’s nom-de-plume and his claim to speak “ as a responsible business man who is controlling a secondary industry in this town,” I would remind the citizens that the situation, as set out by “Manufacturer,” has already been dismissed officially as unheard of and as one that it is extremely unlikely to eventuate. I repeat, Sir, it is another of Mr M'Donald’s bogeys, and in reply to it I would ask him when and where he has suggested how £1,000,000 might be raised —should such a calamitous necessity arise—without recourse to the raising of rates. In view of the fact that the rates were this year reduced, and that justification was shown for the reduction, it is extremely unlikely that such a volte-face as an increase of 9d to Is should, as your correspondent suggests, be made. In short, the mere suggestion is ridiculous. —I am, etc., On the Look Out.