Correspondence.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5056, 15 September 1894, Page 4

Correspondence.

— ». i ■ ■ — Vested Interests. •TO THE XDITOB. Sib,— We are oomt&ntly hearing ths wails of our looal ratepayers about the heavy taxes they have to pay, and when a reform is suggested requiring a little extra taxation, the people are reminded at once of the terrible financial burdens of the ratepayers, and yet these same people reject suggestion after suggestion which: has been made to lighten these burdens. Bow was Mr C. M. Gray's proposal to establish municipal gasworks treated, and ; how was he treated personally in return for his persistent advooaoy of a muoh-needed and beneficial reform P Again, what effort ! was made at the time of granting the new lease to the Canterbury Tramway Company to impose a condition requiring that Com- ; ! pany to pay a decent rent foj* the exolucive right granted ? When the New Brighton Tram Company made applioation for a reduotion in rent, it was oniythrongh the strenuonß opposition of Mr W. H. Cooper that the Company's appeal was not acceded : to, and Mr Cooper's contention that the : Company could well afford to pay, has since been amply proven. It seems the great obstacle in the way of our City 1 Fathers is the now pretty well ueed-up : ! bogey "vested interests," and I am afraid I the old bogey will not disappear until the one-man-one-vote principle appears on the ' { scene. I trust that will be soon, bo that; j the people will have an opportunity of relegating some of these men, with their foisiliged ideas, to obscurity.— l am, &c, PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL.