OTOROHANGA RIDING ACCOUNTS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6978, 15 October 1948, Page 4

OTOROHANGA RIDING ACCOUNTS

Sir, —In your issue of the 6th inst. in the report of the County Council’s meeting, I noticed a resolution put forward to the effect that all riding accounts be abolished; fortunately it was turned down by one vote. Had the resolution been carried it would have meant in effect, that Mangaorongo and Wharepapa rates would have gone up £2 Is 8d and £2 6s lOd respectively, and Honikiwi, Te Rau-a-Moa and Waipa would have been reduced by £1 11s 3d, £1 Os lOd and £3 18s Id, respectively per £lOOO rateable value. I did not notice a notice of motion to bring this matter forward.

Legislation was never meant to give such dictatorial powers to a few members of county councils; to push debts incurred by them on to another section of ratepayers. The only democratic way to alter such an important matter as this is by a vote of the ratepayers concerned. (It is just another case similar to the recent attempt to form a Rabbit Board in this district—of making the other fellow pay as much as you can—and pay as little as you can yourself).

I think that Federated Farmers should move in this case to have the legislation altered.—l am, etc., H. A. LURMAN.