WAIPA COUNTY RATING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1829, 27 March 1884, Page 2

WAI PA COUNTY RATING.

TO THE EIMTOK. Sir, — As there appears to bo either a great misapprehension in the mind of the public, or else a desire to mislead on the part of a few individuals, will you kindly allow of a few figures upon the subject of county council doings, which will speak for themselves. To deal with the proposed loan of £642, first. The council made application for a loan of £3,200, but of thib only £642 was granted by the Government, and of this sum onefourth or £160 10s has to be repaid by ten yearly instalments of £16. Now, I think any ordinary man can see that to reject the proposal is to throw away a free grant of £480, to say nothing of having ten years in which to repay the £160 10,. Your Te Awamutu correspondent made some brilliant remarks lately about "give us our rates," and affecting to impute motives to the council for the manner in which the proposed loan was allocated, mixing up matters in glorious confusion. It is scarcely necessary to state that the two things are quite distinct, and that the loan is merely distributed where most needed ; but if it were otherwise the £290 allocated to Kihikilu-Te Awamutu road only means a yearly payment for ten years of £7 5s for the whole county, of which £1 16s will be contributed by the Rangiaohia Riding, reckoning on the proportion of rates. As to the cry of " Give us our rates," it comes with bad odour from such a quarter, seeing that £176 6s 7d has been expended in the Rangiaohia Riding since the main roads were thrust upon the council, and prior to the levying of any rate whatever. If the county council is to be of any service it must ovor-ride these petty jealousies, aud administer in the interests of the whole county, and ratepayers will be wise to think for themselves. — I am, &c, A Ratepayer.