By Isle of Wight Observer
The Isle of Wight Observer published on 15th September 1894 was asked by Alderman James (a member of the Town Council in Ryde) to certify that he had paid all his rates on time. The description by the editor of the rates he had to pay as “heavy obligations”, mirrors how many of us feel today about all the charges levied by councils.
Town Council Amenities. — We very much regret the episode which occurred at the last Town Council meeting, when Mr Flux insinuated that Ald James was, to a certain extent, responsible for the overdraft on the Treasurer because he did not pay his rates. In addition to what is reported at the Council meeting, a rather warm scene took place at the door of the Council Chamber as the members were leaving, when Aid James informed Mr Flux “I always pay my rates, and what is more, I pay them with my own money, and not with my wife’s.” Ald James naturally feels very indignant at an imputation that he takes advantage of his position to delay payment of his rates, and has forwarded us a letter in which he gives the dates and amounts he has paid on every rate since March, 1886. We do not think it necessary to reproduce such an array of figures, but we can assure our readers that Ald James has met his heavy obligations in regard to rates every quarter for the past eight years with unfailing regularity, in March, June, September, and December. It must certainly be annoying to one who has done this, to be made the subject of such an insinuation, which, in his letter, Ald James characterises as both “base” and “groundless.”