NoMoreRates.com
The Campaign to Replace the Present System of Council Rates With a Fairer System Including Restraints on Councils Ability to Increase Expenditure Without the Specific Approval of the Community

19th July 2006 MEDIA RELEASE

Low Income Earners Demand MPs Support for Rating Cap Bill.

Statement from David Thornton - founder/organiser NoMoreRates.com campaign

The so-called partnership between local and central government has been a major topic at the annual Local Government Conference which has just concluded in Wellington - with both sides complimenting each other on the benefits their co-operation is bringing to local communities.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, ratepayers throughout the county are receiving the shocks of rate bills arriving in their letterboxes with significantly increased demands.

Ratepayers can see no benefit at all arising from this so-called partnership – all they can see are those increases leading to a doubling of rates inside the next 10 years.

Meanwhile the NoMoreRates.com campaign is in full swing targeting all MPs with letters and emails and asking them to support the Rating Cap Bill at first reading in Parliament next Wednesday.

This is a members Bill which unfortunately stands in the name of Rodney Hide – and some minor parties are refusing to support the Bill just because it is in Hide’s name.

That is pettiness of the highest order and certainly not in the best interest of the 500,000 plus superannuitants who are particularly affected by increases in rates running at three times the rate of inflation.

The messages from those superannuitants, and from the much younger group of low income earners, is simple – “Any MP who does not support the Bill at first reading had better start packing his or her bags at the end of this Parliament – they won’t be going back.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media