RATES AND RATEPAYERS.
LTO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—In your article last week entitled "Rates and Rate- payers" you state that "the people who groan under them [the rates] are virtually the very people who are responsible for levying them." Is this really the case ? For instance, in this county our rate this year is is. 8d. in the pound, 100. of which is for elementary education. Can it be said with any accuracy that the ratepayers are really responsible for this expenditure? What • has to be taught in the schools; the number and qualifications of the teachers; the details of school buildings, furniture, lighting, heating, sanitation, ventilation, &c., are all governed by the rules of the Board of Education or by Act of Parliament, from which there is no appeal. And what is apparent in elementary education may be traced in much of the other expenditure under the so-called control of a County Council. May it not be that the apparent apathy of the ratepayer is often really caused by his realising that whoever represents him in his Council, there is but small chance of his rates being decreased F—I am, Sir, &c.,
W. CAMERON GULL.
Frilsham House, Yattendon, Berlcs.
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