CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1239, 30 April 1914, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor.) Sir. Will you kindly give space to the following facts in connection with the water rating area question. The restricted area was decided on after careful consideration mainly for two reasons. It was thought that the upper end of the borough having a thinlysettled scattered population, that it would not pay us to reticulate it with water and drainage, in other words the aanual incom; would be swallowed by the annual expenditure and still left hungry ; and also by levying a. full special rate without giving any direct benefit we would be committing a grave injustice. It has been stated that the restricted area will suffer to such an extent in consequence that it will kill the loan proposals. Let us examine this statement. The unimproved value of the present excluded area is about or i-i2th part of the value of the borough. The special rate on Shannon scheme levied on whole borough worked to the nearest coin of the realm would be 3)^d in the pound, on the artesian scheme j}4d. The difference by excluding area is on Shannon scheme i-i2th of in the pound, on artesiau scheme jith of a penny in the pound. I do not believe that these infinitesimal differences in rates will influence anyone who really wishes to have a water supply. On the other hand by bringing in the excluded area we will have a block vote against both schemes. Some of these backblock settlers can scarcely stagger under present rates. For 3 years they have paid a heavy special gas rate (I do not know of a similar case in the Dominion) they have not received any benefit, not even a street lamp, it has not increased the value of their land. Shall we heap injury on injustice by another special rate three times as heavy as the gas rate, without giving any material benefit. It the excluded area has to pay a special rate for water, this pastoral land will have to bear in rates about 15s per acre per annum. The occupiers will be in the unhappy position of paying two rents, one to the Borough Council and one to the landlord or mortgagee. A square deal, or a system of fair exchange, is the foundation of British commerce. To force exorbitant rates on anyone without giving an equivalent, can we call it anything less than legalised robbery ? Thanking you for space.—l am, etc., John Chrystai,!..