INCREASED RATES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1926, Page 11

INCREASED RATES

CAUSE OF DISSATISFACTION,

A letter was received at last night's meeting of the Upper Hutt Borough Council from a dissatisfied ratepayer, who did not understand the increase in the rates since the formation of the borough. "Mr. M'Curdy stated in the hall at Upper Hutt," ran the letter, "that there was money to credit and the rates would go down. Instead we are rated more. . . . I would like in writing from Mr. M'Curdy how he gets his calculation of the extra money claimed on rates, etc." The Mayor moved that the letter be received, but Councillor Greig disagreed. He asked the Mayor if he had told ratepayers, when questioned about the increase in rates, that the committee and not he was to blame. The writer was entitled to an answer to her letter, for it was meant for the council to deal with. Councillor Blewman: "Councillor Greig is quite right, sir. There are lots of people in the district who want to know why there is an increase in the rates." Councillor Greig (to the Mayor): "You blame your council, and not yourself. On no occasion have you voted against any increase in rates, and you should bear your share of the blame." The Mayor: "I am." Councillor Greig: "Well, you're not doing it." Councillor Johnston (West Ward) said the increase should be pointed out to the people. The councillors in the West Ward accepted their responsibility. In explanation, the Mayor quoted increased street maintenance in the East Ward from £700 last year to £916 ss, and said that in the West Ward £633 15s was expended, compared with nothing last year when that area was in the county. The Hutt road maintenance charge in the East Ward was £52, and. in the West Ward £15, the Hutt road maintenance levy being £439 18s 4d and £238 3s 6d for the East and West Wards respectively. These items easily accounted for the increased rates. In street maintenance alone there was an increase of £200. Councillor Jameson suggested that as there would perhaps be other inquiries I about the rates, the council should have a draft letter explaining the increase prepared and submitted to the next meeting, I the letter received that night to be dealt I with when that was done. . "The ratepayers have not troubled to interest themselves in borough matters, but when the rate papers come in they begin to come around," concluded the Mayor.