To the Editor of the Norra-Cama Datty News."
Sir,—I see that a special meeting of voters has been called for the purpose of making certain alterations to the Land Regulations. This would seem an opportune moment to make another much needed alteration namely the giving of the franchise to foreign taxpayers resident outside the Settlement on the same terms as to those resident within.
The present arrangement whereby the Council collects taxes from residents outside the Settlement, namely under penalty of deprivation of water supply, is most unsatisfactory to all concerned and will with the great number of houses now being built in outside districts eventually have to be amended. I think the majority of such residents would willingly agree to pay taxes in full provided they were placed_on an equality in all respects with ratepayers in the Settlement. As things are at present the unfortunate outside resident is compelled to pay whatever rates the Council chooses to demand, and has no means of knowing how his money is spent as he receives no accounts or budget, not even the Municipal Gazette. His roads are not as well policed or lighted as those within the Settlement and their state is too well known to need" comment (although it is only fair to -add that the P. W. D. is doing its best to remedy this). The Health Department cannot function off the roads, consequently sanitary conditions are by no means satisfactory. In spite of these disadvantages, rents are quite as high as inside the Settlement. The Council must be reaping - quite a good income from these sources and in common fairness these ratepayers should be voters.
To make it quite clear that I do not blame the Council for the existing state of things I will conclude by saying that I am and have always been one of their strongest supporters, an old Fireman and long service Volunteer.
I am, etc., Vu Yuen.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.