THE LAST LAP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20183, 27 June 1928, Page 8

THE LAST LAP

RATEPAYERS’ INTERESTS TO-MORROW’S POLL ”To be or not to be ” That is the question that is on the minds of all ratepayers to-day, and to-morrow they will have to decide whether or not the system of rating on unimproved values is to be abolished. Many have already made up their minds as to how they are going to vote, having listened to the arguments brought forth by both sides. Mr Harry Atmore, M.P., has delivered addresses against the unimproved system at three points of the rating area, and to-night at the Opera House he will attack and reply to the theory laid down by Mr P. j. O’Regan, the advocate of the system now in vogue in Wanganui. Ratepayers are reminded that the principal polling booth will be at the Drill Hall, while polling facilities will also be provided at the Keith Street Methodist Schoolroom, Aramoho Methodist Schoolroom, Benbrook’s store, Upper Aramoho, St. John’s Hill Presbyterian Sunday School, Madeley’s store, Durie Hill, Wanganui East Town Hall, Gonville Town Hall, motor garage, Gonville Junction, Castlecliff Town Hall and kiosk. The rolls to be used to-morrow will contain only the names of those entitled to record their votes on tho question at issue. Husbands or wives who arc ratepayers may vote in their own right. Other persons are entitled to exercise their rights providing their names are on the roll. All those who are qu.ilified to vote are earnestlyrequested to do so in view of the momentous question at stake. MR. O’REGAN CRITICISED

ADDRESS BY MEMBER FOR NELSON.

There was a good attendance at the Wanganui East Town Hall last evening to listen to an address on the rating question by Mr H. Atmore, M.P. for Nelson. Mr E. F. Liffiton presided. Mr Atmore, in dealing with Mr O’Regan’s speech, which he was assured. had been singularly unconvincing, declared that all the predictions that Mr O’Rogan had made before the 1925 poll had not been fulfilled. Mr O’Regan had stated that shopkjrepers’ rates in the Avenue would not be doubled, but a number had had their rates doubled and some trebled. Mr O’Regan claimed that the present system of rating had stimulated building, but the value of permits issued under the system of rating on unimproved values were considerably less than those issued during the previous three years when the system of rating on annual values was in vogue. The speaker quoted from Adam Smith, to confirm his contention that the great political economist had advocated a system of taxation, whereby a man was taxed according to his ability to pay. Air Atmore thought the suggestion made by Mr O’Regan as reported, that he (Air Atmore) had the confidence of the land speculators in Nelson was a most unworthy one. It was well-known that he (the speaker) had always stood as independent and had Reform candidates against him, and these latter usually secured tho votes of the well-to-do people. Air O’Regan, Air Ati-ore said, was obsessed by a theory of rating but in practice that theory did not work out equitably. In conclusion Air Atmore urged his hearers to vote to-mor-row for a change in the present rating system. Air Atmore was accorded a vote of thanks.