LYTTELTON NEWS

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16144, 23 February 1918, Page 7

LYTTELTON NEWS

EVANS'S PASS. The rough condition of that portion of E varus'a Pass, better known as tho Zig-Zag road, from Sumner to the hilltop, is giving riso to complaints from travellers u<ing conveyances between Lyttelton and Sumner. Tho portion of road near the hilltop is in verybad condition after tho recent heavy rain, there being -deep ruts in places. An improvement might be made by clearing tho aidechannel for diverting storm water from tho road. This channel has become fillod with debris, and consequently docs not. hold storm water, which overflows across the road. ——— THE PICTURES. The drama, "Sleeping Fires,'' was repeated at tlie Harbour Light Picture Theatre last evening. To-morrow the pictuiisation of David Graham Phillips's book, "Tho Price Sho Paid," starring Clara Kimball Young, will be presented. / MAGISTRATE'S COURT. At tho Magistrate's Court yesterday morn) ing, before Captain R. Hatcliwell, J.PCliarles McGehan was charged' with, being U idle and disorderly person, in that he haai insufficient means of support. The accused 1 was convicted and ordered to como up for eentcnco when called upon, on the understanding that he would leave iho -port. "PADDY'S MARKET".*' The Lyttelton Red Cross workers had a, busy day yesterday conducting a "Paddy's Market" in Norwich quay. Tho morning was occupied in_ erecting stalls and street decorations, business commonciny about I p.m. The following had charge of the various stalls:— Fruit and Produce—Mesdamcs J. F. Crawford, J. A. Newell, H. Fletcher, and Miss . Weastell. Jumble—Mesdomes G. Beswick, T, Hut. chinson, J. 'It. Hewland, and H. Allison. Sweettf—Mesdames -M.; Harris, G. Wilsonr T. Hunter,". E. H. Henderson, Clark, and B, Harris. Meat and Pastry—Mcadames W. T. Lester, F.-AV.-Anderson," Colin Cook, anH. "WhiteParsons. Refreshment®—-Mre J. Young and Mia - Meikle." , The. sale ■ was continued until ovenina when an-auction. sale, conducted by the .'Mayor,-Mr W.' T. Lester, took'placc. The proceedings were enlivened during the evoni .ing with musio by the Lyttelton Marino . 'Band. The takings were over £110. RATING- VALUES. . TO THE EDITOR OF "iHB PBESS." Sir, —I have had my attention directed to a letter in your issue signed "Equity." His indisputable facta are most ' i disputable. First .of all, unimproved value ' ■rating is not a single tax, no moro than tho' annual value in Lyttelton -is, which eeema to me to be a tax on improvements and land alike. The "unimproved system' 1 quoted by "Equity" is not -ft misnomer. It most decidedly does tax the. properties, - and docs not penalise those which ore improved. It will not allow any man or any body of men to cumber _ the borough year after year, paying the minimum amount oi rate in order that ultimately they reach the highest profit through tho efforts of those who have built or otherwise improved their properties: An for his contention that it tends to create slum areas, may I ask hiin if there were .no fcLum areas under the capi\ tal value or the . annual value systems "Were there no slum areas in Addington or in Riocarton before the unimproved system came into force? Of course there were, and th© unimproved system may be used "by men who are of "Equity's" way of .thinking to . create Blums if they so wish. JJut it is a. poor man who will scramble through the stringent by-laws that boroughs now enforce in onler to evade paying, the dues that his property owes to the general progress and prosperity. This third "indisputable"* fact - is on the same basis. Builders - axe - busi- ! ness men, and what man is going to plunge into enormous building Bchemes because n« , has to pay some twenty shillings or ao pef annum moro on account of his. property.., benefiting by the 'improvements put«on by;.| his , mors enterprising neighbours?? Ha argument that rates must'and do Increase - each assessment » a peculiar one. It seems to me that it tells against- him and his Bide moro than it does against tie unimproved system with which he is breaking a lanoe. In regard to the itendency of values to increase values, I am afraid that is a tendencyof all valuers—the" land basis' is always taken and depreciation allowed, as it should be, for the buildings. Surely "Equity" does not • want tho buildings that cost £1000 to pay on that amount for ever and ever. If those.. land values are fictitious—and I agree with ; "E<inity" > -that the-fictitious;landvalues. of ,; the Dominion, especially';in agricultural and"; pastoral land, are a grave evil,', affecting eachand. everyone of us—then "Equity .has the;Court to appeal to. I do not know-'what-.-ever the report of an -unnamed English De- * partmental enquiry on single tax hag to do " with the -unimproved system of rating at Lyttelton. Under "annual value rating" •' the borough has sunk back—only 30 per cent., of the workers .on the; wharves aire Lyttelton. reeidents—every improvement we make has to "' be done wjth borrowed - money. We have \ 6een paltry tenements grow up in our town - bcause of the low annual rent that would bo . considered elsewhere far. below the standard - of dwelling-houses. . Tired. -of the existing l order of things, we have'dared to look for- ; .ward to something better,and we ax© met i by tho insinuation.that we are in the'pay of" a deceased alien. That is Mr "Equity's" i n -\ disputable fact, and it is ,kin wit4i'the eight other reasons be has, advanced 'towards keep- "~ mg- Lyttelton in the stew in which it is - steeped—Yours, etc., 1 18 - Lyttclta, »-<!. SOBTO!?.