CORRESPONDENCE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 9 August 1917, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

. [Correspoc dence is invited on any matter of public interest. We do not, however, necessarily agree with the views expressed by correspondents.]

BUILDING PERMITS,

TO THE EDITOR

g IB> —I must again ask space for a short letter. Since writing I have been asked by some of our townsmen why I did not go further in my reference to building permits. Evidently the townspeople are waking up to the necessity of better management of the town affairs, 'and that it must be in the raising of revenue in a more equal way. Some of the Commissioners will remember that a few years ago I approached them and asked them to make the building permits for houses 20s, with the result that we got permits on two scales —one of 2/6 for small buildings, and 5/- for Uarge ones A. perfect farce, with no justice in it. JM forget Commissioner Graham's reatpflH at last Board meeting—business blunders' was it ? If so, it was a good name for'some of the transactions which are J going on. But when is Commissioner Graham going in for any improvement ?. There is plenty of room for him to make a start. Well, sir, I hold with Commissioner Stewart's idea of a value for all buildings, but why did he not see his way to this before he built his large hall which is an ornament to the town. Now, sir, I will give those Commissioners my opinion. If I was a member of the Board I would start with a sliding scale of charges—up to £100, 5/; £200, 7/6; £300, 10/; £400, 15/; £600, 20/; £800, 25/ ; £1000, 30/; £2000, 40/; £3000, 50s ; £4000, 60/; £5000, 70/; ?£6OOO, 80/, and so on, at the rate of 10s for'every £1000. Now, suppose Stewart's Hall cost £4000, I feel sure that gentleman would not cavil at 60s for a permit. Now, sir, building will start on a large) scale in Helensville in the near future, and it a scale of charges such as I propose were adopted, there would soon be a reduction in rates. Mr Editor, I will close this subject, but may have something to say later on about other improvements which are much needed in our town.—l am, etc., I. McLeod. Helensville, August 6th., 1917.