Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 17,1902. Friday’s Poll.

Manawatu Herald, 17 June 1902, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 17,1902. Friday’s Poll.

NexJ Friday, at she request of sixty ratepayers, a poll will be held 1 to decide whether, for the next three years, rating shall be on the present rental value, or on the Unimproved value. Wq regret that the supporters of either principle have not macle public their views, not so much on the principle generally, but as to how the new system would affect the ratepayers of this Borough. We have pointed out that by moving for the adoption of the unimproved value rating a great hardship will be inflicted oh very many ratepayers if toe poll is carried, which we believe is far from the wish of many of the movers. Whether onr assertion has interested them into looking into the matter themselves we know not, and without certain definite instances being brought before their notice, we fear that they will do evil 'without desire. At anyrate there is as much evil in doing wrong from the omission to do what is right, as it is to do evil,indirectly and unintentionally, and we thus hops that the ratepayefs who vote will do justice to themselves and the whole body of rate* payers by voting only on what they thoroughly understand and the effect such voting might cause. The Borough is in the hands ,of the representatives of the ratepayers who bave~ seriously ignored enlightening their supporters on this big question. What we desire now to impress upon the ratepayers is that the question .goes beyond the merits of either system of rating, as much is to be said on both sides where the similarity of surroundings exist, but in this Borough which consists of town and pastoral laud the unimproved value cannot be brought into lino- to bo fair to all. The ratepayers must understand the result of the poll will be far reaching and if carried may lead to vast alterations in the status, of the town which would materially lessen its- -npo' fcance and usefulness. Thus the public act we are called upon to perform next Friday is one worthy of attention and caution.