Ratepayers' Inertia To the Editor of the "Nonn-Cuixa Dany News?
Si.—We have heard for many years the old ery about the inertia of the ratepayers, and one wonders where Ties, the petual reason for this apparent inertia when so often as nov 2 furore is aroused about some high: handed action of the Council. Peraps the following may offer planation, Whether what I any abi state is true or not perhaps I might have veriied first by writing to quire what actually constitutes Fatepayer, My information to date is the aelual landowner or property owner. Thus we boil down (o our 3.600 ratepayers as listed. Many of these "are no doubt absent from Shanghat and are litre interested in our Municipal affairs, other than in obtaining a return on their invested capital, which with the present con~ Rested stale of Shanghat, is fairly Well assured, And the balance, wn-Tess they are definitely public spirited, also have little interest. And why, find here to my mind is the actual Feason, they are able to pass on the ancial burden to the general public fu either letting their premises at so much per month, plus rates and taxes, for quoting a rental inclusive of rates fand taxes which is usually increasable According to increases in rates and taxes, So the poor old general public pays the piper, but ix not allowed to fall the tune, 'Thus, as in the present case, you can rouse the ire' of the general public, but ax they have no say the matter, and with the majority of four worthy: so-called ratepayers lack Ing the requisite public minded spirit a evidenced by their non-attendance at "previous important ratepayers Meetings, to agliate for "a speal Ttepayers mesting wil" achieve egal is necessary by to find 8 ay through which the general public, Wwho through their rents are paying the piper, may have a voice in calling the tune, and this can only be an Indignation Meet the general public. of ity of gathering isa prov ill of the action taken, Ing. resolution to that effect. further notion, if any, may be {sa question for more legally an ids to evely Shanghai, Jan. 19.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.