QUESTION OF RATING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 230, 25 October 1940, Page 5

QUESTION OF RATING

RUATOKI DEVELOPMENT SCHEME NATIVE DEPARTMENT'S. SUGGESTION In a letter received by the Comity Council from the Native Department it was stated that since land development operations have been proceeding' in. Ruatoki Nos. 1, 2 and 3 blocks, a large amount of work had been necessary for the provision of roads, culverts and bridges, the expenditure to date totalling £7781. This figure, it was added, did not include maintenance charges. To recover this expenditure, the letter continued, it would be necessarj>- for the Native Department to strike a rate, chargeable on the areas being developed. It was supposed that the County Council would also levy rates and it was suggested*that in order to avoid double rating the council should take over the roads by paying a lump sum to the Department, It was not suggested that the full cost should be paid, but a reasonable offer would be favourably consirred. Mr L. H. Brown, the Property Supervisor in charge of the area had been instructed to interview the council aiul his knowledge of the work that had been done and the future prospects of the locality, should assist the council in arriving at a decision. The master was left to the Finance Committee. Maintenance Costs out of Proportion Reporting to a meeting of the Finance Committee, held before the council' meeting, the County Clerk said that he had interviewed Mr Dillon, of the Native Department, Rotorua. Mr Dillon had stated that the intention of a previous letter to the council Avas to indicate that all tjie lands comprised in Ruatoki 1, 2 and 3 blocks should not pay full rates. Mr Dillon had then been asked to supply a list of all lands which the Department considered should carry 1. Full rates 2. Part rales, and 3. No rates, so that the council would be in a position to ascertain if the rates would be sufficieht to finance the cost of maintaining the Ruatoki roads. The list had not yet been sup plied, but the Clerk reported that the recoveries were substantially below the average annual cost of maintenance. The Clerk stated that it was not yet free from doubt whether the Native Land Court would question the validity of the Gazette Notice making Ruatoki 1, 2 and 3 blocks rateable and the chairman might see fit to-have the matter discussed at the rating conference at which Judge Harvey will be present. It was resolved that the matter be referred to the chairman for action.