A RATING PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2509, 9 July 1915, Page 9

A RATING PROBLEM

■ SHOULD STATE LANDS BE LIABLE TO PAY? Representatives of local bodies in the vicinity of Wellington met in tho city yesterday to discuss the subject of the exemption of State lands from liability to pay rates. The conference decided unanimously .to urge tho Government to make State lands (with certain exceptions) pay rates, as though tho ownership was private. . Those present were: —Mr. J. W. M'Ejvau (Mayor of Petone), in the chair; Mr. W. J."Howell (chairman Hutt County), Mr W. Knight (Hutt River Board), Mr. F. Townseud (Mayor of Miramar), and Councillor Stone;. Mr. H. Baldwin (Mayor of Lower Hutt) and Councillor Ho'dgins: Mr. C. C. Crump (Mayor of Onslow) and Councillor Budd; and Mr. B. G. H. Burn (Mayor of Karon). Mr. M'Ewan said that property to the value of £41,000 had been acquired in the vicinity of Petono for the purpose of erecting workers' homes on, and on that laifd no rates had been paid for many years. The annual rates lost amounted to £700.: Much of the land was let on weekly tenancy, and as all present knew from experience rates could not be recovered from weekly tenants.. Mr. H. Baldwin, Mayor of Upper Hutt, said that the rates lost ljy the Hutt Borough Council and the River Board totalled close on £1000. Tho Government should pay its fair share of taxation on any land it might take or buy. He instanced oases where settlements which ha'd paid rates a few years ago had since their acquisition by the State paid no rates, and the burden had been thrown on the remaining properties, which still lay. in private hands'. ". , Someone asked if there was any objection to asking for the State to be required to pay rates on all its land. Mr._ M'Ewan expressed the opinion that it would help the particular case ho had mentioned if they did not make ■their request so large as the question suggested. He added that Government Departments lent money to people on whom they might, in some cases have to foreclose, and if the Departments took property by such means they should pay rates on it. The Mayor of Miramar (Mr. Townsend) said that Miramar' sympathised with tlie proposition. He remarked, however, that it would be a sore point with Miramar if-military holdings wero exempted, because the Government could say that practically all the State laud at Miramar. was held for military purposes. Tho land was about 300 acres iiv extent, and the rateable-value was from £500 to £700. He suggested that first of all the local bodies should .approach the Prime Minister, and if the desired result was not obtained that way a- big petition should be promoted. ■ The "monster petition"idea- had beenput forward by Mr. Howell- (Hutt County Council). A previous Government had been approached on the 'subject, and had replied that if' they undertook to pay rates oil this land they would be called on to pay respecting all State lands, ahd the latter, tliey could'not undertake. It Was decided that the conference should send a deputation to the Prime Minister to ask that all lands owned by the Government. should be made liable for rates, except lands used for schools, drill halls, post offices, hospitals, railways, and police stations, and that the executive of the Municipal Association should be asked to join the deputation.'