UNIMPROVED RATING OUT

Chronicle (Levin), 14 February 1949, Page 3

UNIMPROVED RATING OUT

Shannon Votes Retention Of Present System Proof that the majority of Shannon's ratepayers are satis^ .fied with the ' present capital value rating, was recorded on Saturday when, with a majority of nine votes, it was decided to reject the proposal that the Shannon Borough Council should adopt rating on the unimproved system. ' Eightythree ratepayers were in favour of the change while 92 were against the proposal. The total poll of 175 out of a total of 231 ratepayers within the borough, was considered good because many of th'e town's property owners reside away from Shannon. There were few who returned to the town to record their vote. Considerable local interest was taken in the poll and both sides were well organised with cars taking voters to and from the polling booth, which was situated in the council chambers. Voting was steady until about 4 p.m. when some 160 to 170 votes had been recorded. There were only a few who had not voted by 5 p.m. When the poll closed at 7 p.m. it did not take the returning officer, Mr. J. T. Bovis, and his staff long to count the votes and the final figures were posted on the borough office window before 7.30 p.m. A small crowd congregated outside the municipal buildings at about 7 p.m. and when the result came up there was quite a gathering present.