COUNTY RATING.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 191, 8 March 1878, Page 3

COUNTY RATING.

The question of levying- a County rate was brought up at the meeting of the Taieri County Council on .Friday last. The Times gives the following* report of the discussion : — . , Mr Roberts moved — "That it is desirable a rate of 9d in the pound be struck for the year ending March 31, 1879." Mr Findlay seconded the motion. Mr Allan moved as an amendment— " That consideration of* the subject be deferred until next meeting." He would like to see the statement of how much revenue the Council expected, and in what way it was to be spent, before coming to any conclusion in the matter of rates. The motion was really a settlement of the rate question, and the law required the statement referred to before such a settlement could be made. Mr Samson seconded this. Mr Shand, as a further amendment, moved — •*' That the levying of a rate over the County be postponed < until alter the meeting of the General Assembly, and that in the meantime the Chairman be requested to see or write to the Chairman of the other Councils to take the necessary steps to get' the Counties Act amended so as to be able to levy a rate on. all outlying districts' outside Road Board districts.". . He.was: totally opposed to the levying of a rate by the Council While' the system ; of double rating remained in force. The fact was : That if the County Council persisted' in levying a rate, the ridings would be driven into, forming themselves into municipalities. He was in favour of the Road Boards alone having the levying of rates, as they could -and ; didspend: the money- .to /most.;, purpose. They must not forget this aspect of the question: That if. the Council- did the rating, it only got £.for £ asa.subsidy, and the Road Boards .got nothing; while if the, Boards did the rating, they and the Council both got a £ for £ subsidy. In .this. district already: each acre was rated at 3s— by one body.at 2s, and by "the -Bbard at Is; arid,' besides*tbis,?.they had. , to .pay the ■, railway freight on goods and, produce, while the roads were getting' of less and Tess use/ Mr :Charteris .seconded > Mr -Shand's amendment. . .. > ( . • Thei Chairman drew attention" to the fact that by.'- the -Council taking: the rating into its hands there would, be no prospect of .equalising; the rate all oyer the/County. '' ' . '„" '.'. .-.*• .;...' . Mr Roberts, to meet Mr' ShanH's ob-jections,-would be quite -willing, if the Council levied tJje;rate,ao .hand- Over 'to each. Road Board the sum raised J n,' its district] but weuld like to*see. the rating < /equalised, throughout: thei whole County. Replying,. to Mr, Allan-/ -he said f th;afr. the statement of estimated cbWdTohly be, and usually was a forma, affair, JHe, as treasure^ would' simply ■ bring idpwn a* 'statement estimating the - revenue! at a certain lump .sum lt a,n^ the expenditure at another nearly the same. Mr-Shand^ was- af raid r that if once the Council got hold v 'of? the v money, --.the Road Boards would never see much? of

J it, whatever might be intended iv the ; meantime. Mr Roberts said he could see plainly enough that the conclusion' cotiie to last year was to be come to again this your j they were to have no -rate at all.? : Mr Samson and Mr Ohnrteria re-minded-Mr Robert*, that, they bad-had a, very sueessiul year notwithstanding. The floods had caused a. good?' deal. -of; heavy work, but stijl they had a good balance to end the year with. 'r ' " '^' Mr amendment was. then put: to the meeting, when it was lust .on the. casting vote of the Chairman. *■»'"-•! 7 Mr Allan's amendment was put, and lost upon the vuices. Before putting Mr Roberts^ motion, Mr Allan asked for. the 'Chainhah's ruling as to whether it were ullu.vvab.e, iv the face of'the provision by law, for a previous statement of estimated receipts and expenditure^ •■ v. ,? _' , The chairman having ruled that themotion was admissable, it was .then, nut to the meeting, and also lose 3 upofi^tue voices. . :-. ■■■'- .- AA Mr Roberts said this was, the. Lust occasion upon whioh he would; move in the direction ot rating. He" hail moved it twice in vain, and someone else mighc do it on a future, occasion. . ; „*' ,<.