Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.1.3. Correspondence, Letters to newspapers

1958 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Wicklow People, 26.04.1958

I have always held that rate collectors are an unnecessary expense on ratepayers, and am therefore very disappointed that on a vote at the last County Council meeting just by one vote, it has been decided to reappoint a collector for No. 9 District (Newcastle area).

The rates in that district were paid direct to the County Council office last year and cost of collection was only £63 as against over £1,000 when last collector was employed. We have on many occasions been told that Local Government expenses must be cut down and every effort made to economise. Yet it is the Labour Party who have pressed to have this additional expense put on our rates. It is all the more surprising coming from that Party, seeing that the figure now proposed for remuneration for the new rate collector is £700 a year. That sum would more than pay two men for the 52 weeks of the year, in the lower income group who are the first to feel the pinch when money goes short. Indeed, many of that group have just had a term of three months unemployment.

It will be remembered that some months ago, when it was decided to give a trial for this year to direct payment to the office, it was only on the casting vote of the Chairman, Mr. Henry J. Byrne, that it was won. It was regrettable that Mr. H. J. Byrne is in hospital at present as a result of an accident and was not able to be present at last meeting, otherwise I feel sure we could have had another year to clearly prove that direct payment to the office is the correct and just way of payment of rates. Elizabeth F. Bobbett, Springfield, Kilbride, Wicklow.