The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1921. A NOVEL IDEA.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 630, 6 May 1921, Page 4

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons.

FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1921. A NOVEL IDEA.

At the Borough Council meetingheld on Wednesday, Cr Patterson brought forward a rather novel, and at the same time a workable, variation of the rating- system as an idea. He asked that it be a remit to the Local Bodies’ Conference that where local bodies have the right to define ft brick area, they should also have the right within that area to rate on unimproved values. This should be quite a workable scheme and find favour with local bodies as it becomes known. Unfortunately Cr Patterson’s motion lapsed for want of a seconder, but that does not rob it of its value. In towns like Pukekohe, unimproved rating- would be o,uite impracticable over the borough—it would be a gross injustice to the agricultural areas within the borough. But to operate that system ever a closely defined and limited area would be advantageous to the town. What is wanted here is a system of rating which will prevent land beingheld vacant in the main street, gaining- value by the efforts and enterprise of others. Pukekohe has several bad gaps in its main thoroughfare, all of which are gaining in value year by year without any effort on the part of the owners. A limited brick area rated on the unimproved system w<-a!d ouickly bring results from these vacant sections and incidentally revenue to the borough. .

“We nothing extenuate, nor aught set down in malice.”