LOSS IN RATES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1937, Page 22

LOSS IN RATES

MASSEY COLLEGE LAND

REPLY TO COUNTY COUNCIL

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

PALMERSTON N., This Day,

"It will1 be realised that to accede to the request of the Kairanga County Council would mean that the Crown would have to make itself responsible to all local bodies in New Zealand for rajtes on all school lands or other lands used for educational purposes. Such a change in policy does riot appear to be justified," stated the! Acting Minister of Finance (the Hon.-P. Fraser) in his repl., to a request by the county council for a Government grant to cover the loss in rates arising- from the exemption of the Massey. Agricultural College property from rating. "For the life of me," stated Mr. J. Hodgens, M.P., who forwarded the Minister's reply, "I cannot see the analogy between Massey College and an ordinary school. The college, to my mind, is a specialist institution catering for the requirements of. the whole Dominion, and as such should not'be the cause of. embarrassment to the "local body wherein it happens to be functioning. I have discussed this aspect with the Minister without avail; as a'matter of fact* I might as well have been talking to myself. Therefore, 1 have. to inform you that the position is'hopeless." The chairman (Councillor D. Collins) expressed regret at the Minister's reply, and said it did not seem likely that anything further could be done. Councillor T. D. Lynch drew attention to the fact that Massey College was a national institution, and the students there came from all over the Dominion, some even coming .from overseas. He would like to see the Minister asked to reconsider, his decision. j , On'the motion of Councillor W. G. Shannon, it was decided that a deputation consisting of the chairman and Councillors Lynch and J. Smith' should wait on the Minister. , I