RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 194, 11 May 1908, Page 9

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

, DIFFERENTIAL RATING ADOPTED. , (BY TELEGBATH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) ! ' - : \ " Marlon, May 10. •The monthly meeting ;,of Rangitikei County Council was held on Saturday, all the Councillors being present. _ ' ■ ■ The Treasury wrote advising the payment of £1000, the'final instalment on loan of £1500 for tho Ongo Road! • Councillor Batloy brought' up thefmatter of alteration: of county boundaries between .Wanganui and Rangitikei. This was held over for Councillors. Batley,.. Canton,- and Morrison- to . see the ratepayers, interested, with a view to'sending a deputation to ..tho. 'Wanganui Council. A petition was received/from settlers interested in the erection of a bridgo over, Hiver at , Taoroa/ asking that tho Council apply-to tho Government for a £ for £ subsidy, and that tho Council apply for a loan for the balance of tho cost.' It was resolved to make . application . to. the Government for a subsidy,', and that application' for a-loan be scheduled. Other' resolutions were: —That a voto of thanks be-passed to Mr. John, Hammond for, hislfree offer of metal from off his property at Rata; that the offer of Mr. Gardner to pay £100 'towards "repairs to Torero Road be,accepted; that Councillor M'Gregor arid Engineer meat Mr. Jas; Campion to arrange the construction of the Okirao Road deviation 'on condition that , the Courioil; grant £300 towards the work as already arranged; that be authorised, to call for tenders for the formation, of the Botaka: Road; that the Engineer be', instructed to proceed with tho work of cmtinning the Mangaio Iload to connect with Hiwera Road, including tho'■ removal, of'the suspension; bridge at; Moawhango, and tho placing of it over the Otuarciawa stream. . The. question of .differential, rating, that is, a'different rate for different ridings,' was discussed. The system was opposed by four members of the Council, representing the Northern Ridings, where . new • works are constantly required. .' . ' Councillor Canton, on behalf of ratepayers in tho To ' Kapua riding, appealed for fair ' play. Settlers in his riding , had been stuck in the mud for many, years,' and had * paid their rates cheerfully,, because: they, recognised that their money was going to a body of men who' had always dealt fairly with them. Now, when they wanted assistance, they were told they had to bear tho cost themselves. It was unfortunate that the valuations had increased more in tho lower ridings, which meant heavier rates than those in tho northern districts. In order 'to get this rectified they had voluntarily. asked for a new valuation, but-the application was held over for a, year. Ho instanced the case of the- Eketahuna County Council to show that tho system was unfair. This Council, after adopting differential rating for some time, had now reverted to the old order of things. He had received legal advice from Messrs. Skerrett and Wylie, and they had laid down clearly that the position was not affected by the now Act." He claimed thnt the county was divided into ridings for the, purpose of representation only, and not for rating purposes. Councillor Batley said the present time was inopportune for bringing the matter before the Council. It would be better to allow tho proposed new system to stand over for twelve months, as there were many small struggling settlers in the two northern ridings of Awarua nndTe Kapua who would be'seriously affected by differential rating. Councillor Duncan spoko against the principle of separate rating. Councillor Simpson (chairman) said that the valuation in tho lower ridings had largely increased, which meant a big burden on "them in maintaining roads in tho backblocks, whereas the valuations in the upper ridings were comparatively low, and the position was not so serious to 'them,..'although they appeared to .be heavily rated. The law provided for differential rating, and it must, be fdven effect to. On a motion being put, the Council odoptad tho system by a majority of. one