INCREASE IN RATES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2488, 15 June 1915, Page 7

INCREASE IN RATES

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID TO BLAME. The new schedule of City rates, struok at Thursday's meeting of the City Council, shows a further increase. The City collected an additional £8000 last fear as the result of increased values in_ certain parts of the City, hut despite that the ratepayers are faced with another, if not a very formidable rise, for which the civic authorities claim no responsibility. The rise has been occasioned by an increase in tho demand on the part of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board (which body's demand has increased 75 per cent, during the past four years), and as tho council has no power to protest against these annual accretions the council has to pay up and look as pleasant as possible. This year the council's Tate for hospitals and charitable aid purposes has increased from 2 2-3 d. in the £ to 3 1-od., which will produce an extra sum of £2600. As against that extra demand, there is a slight reduction in tbo rate to meet the interest charges on the City Improvement Loan, which was reduced last year from £100,000 to £75,000. For that reason that rate has boon reduced from 33-200 d. to 29-200 d. in the £. The difference represents the sum of £710. Subtracting that amount from, flie £2600 extra demanded by the _ Hospital and Charitable Aid ward, it becomes apparent that thn total extra amount to be raisod by tho vates this year is £1790. The rate demands for the current six months will he issued towards tlia end of July.