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Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 228, 26 September 1929, Page 23

GOLF CLUB'S PROPERTY. OTAHUHU'S heavy burden. RESIDENTS rAY FOR OUTSIDERS' PRIVILEGES. (By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.) ;]• "WELLINGTON, this day. The Borough of Otaliuliu finds it an expensive luxury to have the Auckland Golf Club's course within its boundaries, because the club's extensive property , lnes not contribute its full share of ties Protesting against reduction in the valuation enjoyed by the club, ,he ;; Otahuhu Borough Council has petitioned Parliament seeking an amendlent of the Valuation of Land Act so that its provisions shall not apply to an area of more than 20 acres held by -nvj person, or body of persons, in a borough. Petitioners also ask that an amendment be made so that, except on a certain specified number of days aniijially> any lands to which the reduction provisions apply shall be open to the'' public as a right, It is pointed out thai the club's property of 137J acres has- been reduced to half its ordinary ratlible value because it is land used for sport and not for profit. As a result the rates have been reduced from £870 to £435- Last year the club purchased a further 39 acre?, and the valuation of that area was reduced from £3925 to £1962, the rates coming down from £165 to £82. Petitioners claim that, in consequence of reductions in the club's total increase of a farthing in the -pound is required over the whole borough, and every Otahuhu ratepayer is therefore compelled to contribute indirectly to the funds of the Auckland Golf Club.

It is said that the club is a most exclusive body, and, as Otahuhu is almost entirely a working man's town, few ratepayers could gain admission to the club. Petitioners say that the law 13 unjust in that it makes no provision for admission of the public to lands which derive benefit from the Act, and, though the public of Otahuhu contribute indirectly to the upkeep of the club's grounds, they have no right of It ia al3o felt- that a limit should be placed on areas to which reduction privileges apply.-.v.