THAT £l00,000 LOAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23084, 9 January 1937, Page 17

THAT £loo,ooo LOAN

TO THE EDITOR

Sir,—The Labour Party has done some singularly autocratic things since coming into office in Dominion and civic affairs, but surely the limit has been reached with the latest move by the Dunedin City Council to attempt to take from the ratepayers the right to vote on a loan proposal of such dimensions as that which the council wishes to raise for the purpose of finding employment for the many men who, even 13 months’ after the advent of a Government which was going to clear up the unemployment situation in one fell swoop, and has already taxed the people heavily for that purpose, have not been absorbed into work.

As a ratepayer of many years* standing and a citizen who has already been called upon to “ pay through the nose " for the raising of the standard of living among the workers, I strongly protest against such an arbitrary proceeding as that which the City Council is now taking. I trust that steps will be. taken immediately to organise a strong general protest by the thousands of already harassed ratepayers. I would suggest that the protest be drawn up and circulated for signature. If this is done lam sure the result will be the discomfiture of that section of the council which has endeavoured to withhold the customary rights and privileges of ratepayers in the matter of the raising of substantial loans.—l am, etc., Justice.