Improved and Unimproved Values.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 21, 31 July 1912, Page 3

Improved and Unimproved Values.

To the Editor. Sir, —At the ratepayers' meeting His Worship the Mayor laid before the ratepayers some particulars regarding the rates paid by the borough of Waipawa. His Worship pointed out that Waipawa was paying a rate of about fourpence in the pound on the unimproved value, and he cited the rates charged in Pukekohe as being exceedingly low in comparison with these. Mr Dunn is well aware of the fact that the rate in Pukekohe is on the capital value, therefore the comparisou as a practical illustration was worse than useless; in fact it was misleading to a good many ratepayers, unless ho worked out for them what the Waipawa rate would have been had it been struck on the capital valuo the same as Pukekoho. If Mr Dunn's comparisons were useless and he uses the illustration to try and prove something that does not exist it looks very much liko throwing dust in the eyes of the ratepayers in order to encourage them to support his proposals. Personally, I think we should all support the loan proposals as adopted at the meeting, but I would suggest to Mr Dunn to use more reliable illustrations in future than the one quoted above. I am, etc. B. ANDBEW. | We regarded the charge against the Mayor of endeavouring to mislead the ratepayers as unfair, and with Mr Andrew's knowledge referred the above letter (without communicating Mr Andrew's name) to Mr Dunn, in order that a reply might accompany i the charge. In answer, Mr Dunn writes saying that the letter in plain terms is an accusation of covert untruthfulness and dishonesty, which charge he ignores. To ask for an explanation was a proper tiling to do, but to make an accusation of this sort was simply to prevent au explanation from beintr made.—Ed.