A look at rates

The Government must make local bodies only charge increases in rates in line with the consumer index.

Councils will then have to operate prudently and only do what they are supposed to do, and that is to supply services for the ratepayer and stop dream schemes that run away with ratepayer money.

This country is cluttered with whiteelephant monuments from all councils.

The Government also needs to stop putting its responsibilities on to local authorities because that makes us pay

twice - first by wage taxes and again in rates.

Pensioners have worked hard over the years and paid their taxes but now that it is our turn, we can’t have a realistic pension because the Government has wasted so much money over many years.

The Government appears to have a policy of paying miserable amounts and hoping we fall off the perch to save some pension.

Graham Holloway

Tauranga