EASTERN PETONE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 81, 2 October 1931, Page 8

EASTERN PETONE

MATTER OF RATING

VALUES

Mr. A. L. Pritchard presided over' a meeting of about 150 ratepayers of- the eastern end of Petone at the Wilf ord School last night.

The committee of three, Messrs. W. P. Watkinson, W. T. Black, and W. Seddon, which was. appointed'to confer with the finance Committee of the Petone Borough Council on matters affecting rating and borough management, submitted its report of that .conference. It%aid that the Finance Committee had given it every' consideration and all questions had been answered. Mr. Wilson, of the Valuation Department,, had also been present at the conference, and had produced evidence in support of the newly-made valuations which, he said, were' based on current market prices. The committee was satisfied from the evidence that the valuations were on a fairly uniform basis. Regarding the financial position, of' the borough, the report said that although the council had practised-economies wherever possible, the prevalence of unemployment has caused an extraordinary; drain on its funds.

' The meeting passed a motion thanking the Mayor and councillors and the borough staff for the help given iti committee, and stating that while it appreciated the difficulties of the council at the present time, it": would point out that ratepayers also were iv difficulties, some finding it hard to get the money to pay their rates. In the opinion of the meeting* all possible' economies should be practised by the council, and loans for new works should be postponed until times; improve. An association, of ratepayers of tha eastern end was»formed. The following officers were elected: President, Mr. W. P. Watkinson; secretary, Mr. W.; H. Edwards; committee, Messrs. J. W. M'Ewan, W. T. Black, A. L. Pritcharjl, W. Seddon, arid B. Pattinson.