AGGRIEVED RATEPAYERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2292, 28 October 1914, Page 6

AGGRIEVED RATEPAYERS

UNFAIR TAXATION ALLEGED

A good deal of feeling exists on the part of many residents of Northland in respect to the payment of special rates levied on Norpland landowners by the Karori Borough Council, the body tcsponsible for tho works on which the special rates are made, and for whibh Northland property-owners have still to pay, though since the works were completed the district has been included in the city. Tho people concerned aro not Mnwilling to pay a rate as made on the values declared at the, time the rate was first struck, but they object to paying on the increased valuation, as they point out that the amount to be paid in interest is no more than it was when the rate was first struck in 1908. The fact that values have gone up at Northland, and receded at Karori should not, the Northlaud people hold; make them responsible for a greater proportion of tho interest money on the loans, as to a man with a settled home if mattered little whether the valuation increased or decreased, except in respect of tho extra taxation that might be. demanded from him when an increase was recorded. ' Tho Northland argument is that should their values go on increasing and thoso of Karori still further recede there may come a time when the former district is paying the bulk of the interest on the cost of works originally ii\tonrled to benefit Karori only. The heading of the Karori Borough Council's rate demand says:—"Demand in respect of the following amounts of recurring rates assessed upon tho unimproved value of Karori as it existed prior to April 22, 1908." It is contended that the Karori Council can only levy on the unimproved value of land within its jurisdiction, : as it was prior to April 22, meaning tho Gov-ernment-valuation in- existence at that date. The "works on 'which the special rate is struck are as follow:—

(1) £4000 for tunnel and road improvement. .'■.•.. ■

. (2) £2000 for tunnel and road, improvement.

(3) £2000 for tunnel and road improvement. . . .

(4). £37,000 for road-making and tramways,'

(5) £17,000 for road-making and tram, ways. ; '

One complainant, who produced his papers, showed that the amount he paid in 1909 was short of £2 per annum, now he had to pay over £3 10s. It. was stated that tho matter had been brought before the Karori Borough Council without any redress being granted. Now the people concerned (who are citizens of Wellington) are attempting to get redress through the medium of the Wellington City Council.