OPOTIKI COUNTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 222, 19 September 1928, Page 15

OPOTIKI COUNTY.

SHARP BATE INCREASES. RESULT OP LOWER VALUATION. <By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) OPOTIKI, Tuesday. The Opotiki County Council held a special meeting to-day to consider the position created by the receet valuation of the county by the Valuation Department. It was decided to strike the following rates: —Ohiwa riding, 6Jd; Waiotahi, 6Jd; Waioeka, 3d; Upper Waioeka, 16d; Otara, lid; Coast, 17d. The total rate to be collected is £11,750. Last year's ratee were respectively 3£d, 3Jd, 3d, 4d, 3£d, and 3Jd; total, £13,045. The new valuations have created an extraordinary position. A great part of Opotiki county consists of third class land, and the valuation of this land has been reduced in some instances from £1 to 2/6 per acre on the unimproved valuation. The result is that as the same amount of money must be raised for the proper functioning of the council the extra burden will have to be borne by the first and second class lands. As it is impossible to differentiate in rating within the various ridings the first cktss .lands suffer seriously. The valuation of the Coast riding has been reduced from £19§,000 to £34,000. The Woodlands soldier settlement will be heavily hit by the new rates. Many owners of first and second class lands will be unable to pay the demands. At the present time the council's overdraft is at the limit, and drastic reductions in expenditure will be necessary to meet the position, especially as tbe new rate will bring in nearly £2000 less than last year. Although the extraordinary position has been placed before the Ministers of Lands and of Public Works tDe council jhas not yet received a reply.