HARBOUR MATTERS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12723, 10 April 1911, Page 2

HARBOUR MATTERS.

(To the Editor.) - Sir,—Of the letters which have so fa.y_ appeared re harbour works and rating proposals, that in Friday morning's "Chronicle" over the signature of J. C. Paterson, stands out, I think, by itself,. as the one which in the interests of the County ratepayers needs criticism. Mr. Paterson announces himself as "absolutely and strenuously opposed to a county rate." He wr?£es as a ratepayer in the County (which of course he is) and presumably expects support from County people adverse to the borrowing policy of the majority of the present Board, for he takes some pains to show that. his interests and the interests of the average County sottler are one and the same. Mr. Paterson's figures however "-will not do much in that direction. He illustratp,his "home farm of 300 acres valued at £40 per acre" and speaks of a Id rate costing him £50 per annum. The proposal of the majority of the Board, if c.rrjed out, will mean the pledging of a rate of • 3-1 Oths of a penny on a County property for a loan of £250,----000. If that rate is to be collected we must suppose the Harbour Board's surplus revenue to he nil, whereas there '•s already, .according to Mr. Paterson, a surplus of £3900 a year—enough to pay interest on nearly £80,000. As to the 300 acre farm valued at £40 per acre, total £12,000, that farm must be m town, for on enquiry at the County office 1 find that Mr. Paterson's holding in Wanganui County is 3Si acres capital value £643 about £17 per acre. Enough .said.—l am, etc.,

'KOHANGA