COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 276, 16 July 1932, Page 6

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

HUGH

RUSSELL.

To the Editor. Sir, — It is beyond my comprehension to understand why our local county councillors could not see their way clear to support th'e Matamata County Counil at our front doorc, together with Opotiki County Counil at our back door, in seeking a remission of 30 per cent. of the county rates in lieu of the 12J per cent. granted last year, when the ratepayers are struggling to meet demands from the council, which are almost beyond human endeavour with the present pricelevels, and are a first charge against their property. It appears to me that the ratepayers would be better off if our councillors would strictly serve those whom they are elected to represent and leave the finances of the country to those elected by the people for that purpose. The Matamata County Council are fully alive to the situaton, as also are the farmers at Opotiki, and the matter should have been more fully ventilated, as there is an inustice involved. The heavy roadway taxation which we are called upon to pay is a very real deterrent in the progress of the farming community, although not so real in the newly settled areas as it is in the older established districts, where values, the basis of taxation, remains the same as in the days when higher values were obtained for j produce. It is consistent with the foolhardiness of the farming community to tolerate the weakness of our county councillors? — I am, etc.,

Rotorua, July 15, 1932.