AN OPEN LETTER TO OPOTIKI RATEPAYERS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 517, 28 April 1933, Page 6

AN OPEN LETTER TO OPOTIKI RATEPAYERS

T.

HTTCHFNS.

F.

J. SHORT.

H.

M. BUDD,

J.

MAIN,

J.

J. MOODY,

J.

T. TABB,

(To the Editor) Sir, — In the correspondence„ columns of a local newspaper of the 21st instant, a suggestion was offered that the retiring councillors should make a public statement of their activities and aceomplishments during the terin just ended. While the actions of the council should speak for themselves, it is an unfortunate fact that there exists a considerable section of electors who take little or no interest in the operations of their council from day to day and who are faced at election time with the task of recording their votes, without possessing an intimate knowledge of the worthiness or otherwise of the candidates who seek a renewal of their confidenee. * For their information, and to refresh the memories of those electors who have studied, more or less closely, the problems with which their council has been faced, and its success or otherwise in dealiug with them, we, the undersigned council-

I lors, have much pleasure in accepting the suggestion by offering as briefly as possible, a resume of the principal operations of the council during the past four years, during which time most of us have had the honour oi representing the citizens of Opotiki on their board of control. In May, 1929, when the new council came into office- while- the period of depression had started it was not ' severely felt in this district, and the "general opinion prevailed that it would be only of short duration. Conseauently it was not considered necessary to curtail operations to any great extent, and business was carried on as usual. At this time, the amount levied on ratepayers was £4168 of which £2328 was required to meet fixed charges, such as interest on loans, street lighting, hospital levies, etc., over which the council had. no power of variation. This left a sum of £2290 towards the upkeep of public amenities of all kinds, and administration. By May, 1930, when estimates for the coming year had to be prepared, the position of affairs had shown no improvement, and public opinion was becoming alive to the possibility of a continued period of depression. ^While a section of the public were stiil confident that brighter days were shortly due, the council considered it advis' able to adopt a cautious attitude, and proceeded to reduce expenditure in various direetions with the result that the total amount levied in rates was fixed at £4051, a reduction of £567 on the previous year. As fixed charges remained stationary, this left the council with £1723 to carry on its various undertakings. By May, 1931, even the optimists were convinced that it was going to 'be a hard year, and the council, recognising that all classes of the com'munity were being hard hit applied the pruning knif e still f urther, levying a total rate of £3375, this leaving only £947 for free expenditure. This would appear to be an irreducible minimum, but as the position of affairs had not improved in 1932, a further counting of costs was made and the rates again reduced to £3063, leaving the small sum of £735 as the ratepayers contribution to the upkeep of the public services of the town. An additional relief was granted to borough lessees, by taking advantage of the Rent Reduction Act, whereby "borough leaseholders were granted reductions in their rentals ranging up to 20 per cent of the original rents. No, sir, the above figures speak for themselves, and incidentally we trust for us. A record of 70 per cent. reductions in the controllable- rates levied is, as far as we are aware, uncqualled by any municipality in the Dominion. So much for reduction of expenditure. There would be nothing remarkable in such a performance if it were accompanied by a cessation of service to the community. When it is pointed out, however, that all services have been maintained, that streets have been kept in good order, all main highways tar-sealed, sixty chains of footpaths constructed, and the town protected from flooding, it cannot be said that the council has failed in its duty to the citizens. It is often said at election times that however well a council has performed its task, new aspirants should be given a chance to show whether they cannot do better. This may be a good axiom in prosperous times, but in a critical period such as the present we contend that it is very unsafe to drop the bone for a shadow and if the electors are convinced that the present council has served them well, we respectfully suggest that they cannot do better than re-elect them to carry on the good work for a further term. — We are. etc.

Councillors.