RATEPAYERS BEWARE!

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9189, 11 September 1908, Page 4

RATEPAYERS BEWARE!

The ratepayers of Masterton are at present facing the prospect of paying a very large sum in rates to the local governing authority. It is advisable, therefore, to draw their attention to the very rapid increase of rates that has occurred during the past five years. The increase, it seems to us, is quite unjustifiable. Prudence and common-sense alike should dictate a much slower pace in the levying of taxation. The time has certainly arrived for ratepayers to refuse to give the Borough Council whatever they ask for. A comparison of the total sums levied during the past five years will, we think, prove startling to many of our readers. In 1904-5 the total rates levied in the town amounted to £5,162; in 1905-6 to £6,250; in lao 6-7 to £6,350; in 1907-8 to £7,736; and now, 1908-9, the huge sum of £10,139 is demanded. It will be seen from the figures given that during the past five years the total sum of rates levied has actually doubled, until it is now equal, roughly, to £2 per head of the population. It will further be seen that the most marked "jump" has occurred during the I resent year. An increase in the total sum of rates lavied in 1904-5 was certainly to be expected, but we venture to suggest that an increase of £5,000 is out if all proportion to the progress of the Borough, and the "amount of loans raised during the period indicates a policy of dangerous finance on the part of the Borough. An increase in the respect mei.tioned of, say, £2,500, would be very much better evidence, in our opinion, of a policy of sound progress.