RATES AND AMALGAMATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 139, 22 June 1901, Page 3

RATES AND AMALGAMATION.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In this morning’s Times Mr Lysnar says I gave no particulars or names at tho public mooting on Wednesday night. Those who attended tho meeting will know that this is not so, as I said at the time it was no secret, as I had got the particulars from the various rate books, and road out the names of the owners, the valuo of their property, and the amount' of rates each paid'. Now, sir, the question of rental valuo did not enter into the discussion. Mr Lysnar and Mr Bridges had both their calculations worked out on capital values, showing what would be the result of amalgamation on those lines, and further, Mr Bridges said ho would have nothing more to do with the matter until rating on rental values by the Borough was discontinued (or words to that effect). Seeing, then, that I worked exactly on the same linos as tho gentlemen named, why should Mr Lysnar seek to hoodwink tho public by bringing in annual values ? I did not ask Mr Lysnar the annual value of his property, or what was its worth ; I left it, in all the cases citod, to the Government valuers, who are quite able to do their work without either his or my help. Tho reason I selected the cases mentioned was because I had to pay the rates myself; there was, therefore, no need to go for information elsewhere. I went to the meeting of ratepayers in order to get a committeo of enquiry set up, so that the whole matter could bo gone into in a business-like way, and I, sir, am quite content to leave the matter in their hands. I shall, however, ask them for information on various phases of the matter which do not at present seem to have struck Mr Lysnar, or if they have he is deliberately keeping them back in order to mislead and gull the public. For instance, suppose Whataupoko and Kaiti decide to amalgamate with the borough of Gisborne, does Mr Lysnar think they will do so without participating in the water and drainage scheme V If so, he is greatly mistaken ; if, on the other hand, they do come in, another forty thousand pounds perhaps will have to be provided in order to give these places water and drainage. And still another way in which it must be looked at. Suppose, for instance, one half, or evon one-third of the houses are not connected with the scheme, or refuse to take the water, what will be the cost to the rest who do participate? It seems to mo this is the way we must- look at the matter, and not in tho way Mr Lysnar has presented the subject so far. These things havo to bo considered, and we must not allow things to be burked or lightly passed over. In conclusion, sir, I proved to the meeting of ratepayers that my rates aro rnoro than double in the borough what they aro in the Whataupoko, taking the capital valuo as the basis.—l am, etc., Francis Stafford.