THE COUNCILLORS' DILEMMA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9190, 12 September 1908, Page 4

THE COUNCILLORS' DILEMMA.

The special meeting of the Masterton Borough Council, convened for Monday evening next, should be productive of interesting discussion. A few days ago the Council struck a water rate, to which action we have made reference on several occasions recently, and on Monday next it is proposed that they should consider what they have done—and that after demanding an increased water rate from the ratepayers. The notices of motion seem to suggest that in the opinion of the movers the Council did not know what they were doing when they struck the water rats. If our Borough Councillors do things that they do not intend to do what reliance can the ratepayers 'place in them? The notices of motion read as follow: demand issued pursuant to rate made on the Bth inst., and to take such steps thereon as may be deemed necessary." (2) "That the rate demands sent out for the water rate just struck be withdrawn by advertisement, with a view of making a new demand on the same basis as last year, as was intended when the rate was struck." The latter mentioned notice of motion is signed by Messrs J. C. Ewington and Jas. Elliott. We do not; know how the Council strike rates, but it does seem to us that any resolution in reference to the striking of a rate should contain words specifying the basis Jof the rate proposed to be struck. We take it that at the meeting held on the Bth inst. there was not a Councillor present who was not aware of the basis of the water rate struck last year.' How is it possible then that a mistake was made as the words, "as was intended when the rate was struck" suggest? As we have remarked, the meeting lon Monday night should prove interesting. There will probably bn explanations, and the explanations will possibly differ. After it is all over the ratepayers may get an inkling as to the manner in which our city fathers work. There is, however, one point which we should like to impress upon the Borough Council, and in regard to which we wish to enter a protest. It is clear from the increased water rate demand that the basis of calculating it means that the smaller ratepayers would pay more, in proportion, than their wealthier neighbours. Is this right in a supposedly I democratic community? Is it. fair to those people in Masterton, who find their rates a burden?