A RATEPAYER’S COMPLAINT.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 310, 17 October 1929, Page 5

A RATEPAYER’S COMPLAINT.

INCREASED fees. Storage of Dangerous Goods. In sending his storage of dangerous goods (petrol) fee of £5 to the Putaruru Town Board at its last meeting Mr. J. M. Spear stated that the fee was about four times greater than that previously paid to the inspector of explosives. The writer asked what benefits would be received for the extra fee or did the Town Board collect as a privilege ? Benzine was paying 14 per cent, in road taxes, and the writer failed to see why he should have to pay the extra fee to the local authority, particularly when no benefits were received. The approach to his premises was a standing disgrace to any local authority and there appeared to be no prospects of it ever being any better. It cost over £lO for the maintenance of his frontage in something like reasonable order. So far little value had been received for the considerable sum spent in rates. The chairman, Mr. G. G. Griffiths, said the board had threshed out the matter of the increased fees. In reference to not receiving value for rates, the chairman said that because a man paid rates it did not mean that he would get a road up to his door. The question of the frontage to the premises was beyond the board’s jurisdiction. It was decided to reply along broad lines to the letter.