The Unimproved Value Act

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 97, 21 October 1897, Page 2

The Unimproved Value Act

(Per Press Association.) Invercargill, October 10. Tbe petition to tbe Mayor to take a poll on tbe question of bringing into force in Invercargill provisions of rating on " The Unimproved Value Act, 1896," has caussd much interest on the subject for tbe past fortnight, tbe general expression of opinion being tbat tbera was nothing definite before the ratepayers as to the result of adopting tbe Act. A poll taken yesterday showed tbat tbe people were apathetic, as only 1 271 ratepayers Toted and as tbat was I not a tbird of tbe roll onmber tbe poll was void. Those who voted represented 466 votes, of which 267 were for and 199 against tbe proposal. As it was apparent tbe opponents of the movement, if strong enough, bad only to abstain from voting in order to defeat it a great many refrained, and it may be taken tbat tbe 267 represented nearly tbe whole strength of the reformers, whose plea waa tbat rating on unimproved values wou'd impose heavier burdens on tbe holders of vacant sections and relieve those who have improved tbeir properties.