LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1687, 1 March 1913, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

UPPER HUTT AFFAIRS, | .

EATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

Sir,—l, see that there will be ii proposal put beforo tho ratepayers of tho Upper Hutt Town Board District to rato on the unimproved value. Now, I consider it is entirely too early to think of such a .proposal. The town district is to<>-young, and if carried it will inflict a serious injury, on the people who . have m'ado tho Upper Hutt what it is now; these'were geittlemen who spent much on tlie Upper Hutt by cutting up land and loading, etc., thus enabling a number of people to get homes. These gentlemen, with one exception, havo lost seriously, and will still lose more in their land speculation-in'-the Upper Hutt district. "They did not only pay a big price for the land, but spent a considerable snm of money in making streets, and also gave somp 40 acres of land for street'purposes, all of which'was handed over to the local bodies freo of cost, so tho ratepayers havo'got the benefit of all that expenditure. •It is tv well-known fact that several landowners in the district made themselves independent :by selling their farms to' these companies and syndicates, as land that was valued a few years back at from JJIB to >£30 an aore, the owners sold to these companies and syndicates for'-ESO and -£100 an acre; and I am very sorry to say that somo of those farmers who sold their properties at such a high prico are tho strongest advocates for the rating on unimprovement. It is well-known that several of those syndicates aro paying local and property taxes of from «£7O to .£9O a year, and ajl that land has been lying comparatives ly idlo for tho last six years. I would not object so much to tho >proposal if the Town Board, would set up a polling booth in tho' city to allow those ratepayers a chanco to record ' their votes, which it is impossible for them to do at tho Upper Hutt.'- i , . /l'here is another thing, which is perhaps tho most unjust of all: thero aro still.a few of tho old pioneer settlers in the district, and they are; paying a rent for their land so far as rates and, taxes are concerned," and if rating on unimproved properties is airricd-theseolil. ipco?lo will .be'simply rated out*,of existence. ' say, let these old people die in'peace. I will do ■ everything I possibly can against the proposal.' I will also: do everything : 'in .my; power •, to. prevent any commissioner '.that, supports -the . proposal being . returned :«t :any. : future - eleotion.— I am, etc., .. . „ ■; • •. , . J. BROWN.