REQUEST DECLINED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 8, 15 September 1944, Page 5

REQUEST DECLINED

REMISSION OF BOROUGH RATES

PROPOSED RED CROSS HALL

Notifying the Whakatane Boroughi Council of the decision of the Harbour Board 1 to make available to it the uee of a section on the Strand for the purpose of building a hall and' shops ? the Whakatane branch of the Red Cross Society requested that the Council agree to the same terms as granted by the Board, viz the remialsion of rates for a period 1 up to five years. The Council regretfully declined. Commenting on the letter at last Monday's meeting the Mayor said that all councillors were in sympathy with the Red Cross movement but the remission of rates in this instance would amount to something approaching £57 per annum. Over a period of five years, this would amount to a concession far in advance of anything the Council had made to organisations of this sort in the past, and he did not think they were in a position to do it. Cr Armstrong was of the opinion that the site was more suitable for business premises than a Reel Cross building, which could be accommodated in the Municipal Block in the new extension scheme. He questioned also the activities of the Red Cross Society after the war. The danger of establishing a precedent was mentioned by Cr Creeke who declared that once th e Council agreed to the it. would be inundated with others of a like nature. He mentioned the Ambulance hall which was now being built. Cr Shapley paid a warm tribute to the, work of the Red Cross which he said was doing a great job. The Council too # however had a job to do as well and if it made over the •3' rates, it would be tantamount to a lump sum over, the period of almost £300. The Council decided that whilst it appreciated the great work of the Red Cross it could not accede to its request.