CHURCHES AND THE WATERRATE.

Evening Star, Issue 4091, 6 April 1876, Page 2

CHURCHES AND THE WATERRATE.

< ' • ,•* t ’• j.* , V ~ ;■» , » V : This forenoon a, deputation of wyeaenta-' tivea of the various religious bodies in the ! City, consisting of Messrs SmitiL Lu]>eoki, Moodie, Glendining, Jones. HMop. Baft? i Millar, Mercer, an<T Mickay, who- were m- . troduced by Councillors MoUison and Isaac, upon him the desirability of churches unci' ■ places of worship being exempted from the payment of the water-rate. . Mr Miliar mentioned that the movement had its origin in 1871, it being considered that the rate was oppressive, seeing no value was received lor the money baidv' I Each year the assessment increased, *6 that I the rate became much heavier ahd WA more.' severely felt. In 1871 representatives the churches waited upon the directors V the Water Company, who promisWtiiat W. *»on as the company were able to payadividend of eight per cent without assistance? from the Government they would agree to&e exemption of churches, and for that purptae they could have a clause inserted inflieM? t|iey had then before Parliament. The directors even passed a resolution to that effect. When the Act was passing through Parlia-v meat in 1872, it would berecollected that the Council urged that the works should be 1 deposed of to the City ; and with the Viefr of getting the promise of the directors M- 1 filled, the assistance pf Mr Reynolds, who was a director, was asked, but he.dedEned ’ to consent to any, exemption. %M r passed through the Lower House without addition of the promised clause; but when > it the Upper Chamber, the Dr. Menzies and Paterson were cited with, with a view of getting it t inserted. However, nothing was and matters remained as they were. At the time the Corporation were about to get xwssession of tbe works he (Mr Millar) Wrote to the directors of the company requesting them tq carry out their promise, andtiie reply received was that they could hot legaUy do so without having some clause in their Act. -; Latterly there had been one or two iwaaftnkr on the subject with a view of gettiimtHe ’ Council to carry put the directow°intentions,; and on the dth inst. they adopted the fol*? lowing resolutionss— v

1., That it is desirable that aU chorohes in Btm. ~ 1)6 <«> in water-wtos, on the S ground that such buildings are used solely ous purposes. (*.) That on MiwppUwtfion mSfe * a deputation appointed in 18ft tothedtteetfiai ~ of the fete water oompwy. they, on the 29th AO. gust, 1871, reeolred“M?Sat the that t would be desirable to exempt hflt ‘ from the payment of water-rates as soon as the company eu pay; a dividend ofS . cent, without the assistance of the QtoTvnL? mant, and win reoommend the insertion of such a clause in the Bill/' This meeting respectfully >«■*-* ■ theClty.CouncU to cany out the OTifient btentiS 1 of the late water .Company to exempt churches. • that suoti exemption should taAe offewt, iibnmu Jabukry iMfc/S. rhat a os many representatives as can atb nd fotegoißgreaolutions to his WoraWp theMaTOr and urge the favorable oomddetatton of the san£”* The Mayor said that a great deal waainTolyed ip the question. The promiseiof £ * directors of the . Water Company, had evi dently been broken,and when the Corporatiqn took over the undertaking it was l«v>Hd ■ ■ upon as a matter affecting the whole of the ratepayers. Reference had been mode by r Mr Millar to the churched not value for their money ; but the their being saved from the very expensive rate of insurance previously levied wm tooo# i positive of the benefit of the works tofhfi k whole community. He did not that ' the directors’ promise was any great arimmeat in favor of the deputation, because ike company did not at the time of the sale 1 make its performance a sine gud non.; .In his - opinion, if this application was prautcd the v Corporation would have to exempt, and pro-; ’ lb Was far easier for public societies or congregations, to pay the rate : than individuals. He would lay the mfctter before the Council, and ff they, could nee their way dear 1 to exempting the chuTches. the deputation might depend it would be done. ■' .

Mr • and other mem'bers of. the- < deputation urged that a merely nominal should be chaiged, seeing that so few of the . churches were actually connected with the mains.

Or. Isaac thought churches unconnected; < with the mains should be exempt; but if thejr the water they should pep the > ■Mite.:! /' ' AftersoxnediccustiOn, The Mayor observed that the amount ini,!..jj question was L 99 a-year. The deputation might depend on the Council taking the matter into consideration. ■' ' ! ■