WHO HAS TO PAY ?

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1002, 22 September 1903, Page 2

WHO HAS TO PAY ?

’(To the Editor Gisborne Timeiq

Sir, —If tho Borough loan proposals arc lost it will be mainly owing to the unjußt system of valuations that prevails. At the present property owners in tho main street are taxed up to the hilt, whilst many of those in the back streets are allowed to go almost free. I notice that both the Mayor and the Rev. Williams have stated

that there will be a considerable increase in the rateable value before tho lojn proposals are under way, and it would therefore bo as well if those gentlemen informed us whose rates are to be doubled. Do they mean to put the long-suffering tradesmen of Gladstone road up another peg, or are they going carefully through the roll to put the increase on the shoulders of those who have been going almost scot free for many years. For the information of your readers, I append the foliow-

ing table showing the value of a dozon properties which I picked out of ths Borough books at random. I have refrained from furnishing tho names of the owners, but in the event of any of your readers challenging the accuracy of the figures, I shall be most happy to do so. No doubt, one or two members of the Council will be able to pick their own out. The present rate is 2s per pound on the rateable value and three-farthings in the pound harbor rate on the capital value.

f Value 3 a’cding l Rateable Cap’tl to latest i Value. Value. * sales. £ £ £

From the above it will be seen that the capital value is sometimes six times tho rateable value, and sometimes ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, and even as high as thirty times as much. From the above table it will be seen that two men can have a thousanebpounds’ worth of property but the one that has it in Gladstone road has to pay £lO per year, whilst the other only pays £3. With the carrying of the loan proposals the poor fellow that lives in the front street will pay £25 per year on his property, and his friend only £7 10s. I should also like to point out that it is those gentlemen whose properties are vastly undervalued who are so keen on throwing away money on Waihirere.—l am, &c., Plain Bill.

A, Up. Gladstone rd. 26 . .. 295 .. 410 B, Peol st.... .. 30 . .. 600 .. 900 0, Childers rd. .. 30 . . 267 . . 600 D, Peel st .. 30 . . 615 . . 930 E, Peel st . 40':. . 652 . . 1320 F, Gladstone rd. . .. 96 . . 950 . . 1000 G, Childers rd. . . 50 .. . 885 . . 900 H, Childers rd. . . 66 .. 705 .. . 860 I, Childers rd. . . 90 .. 809 .. . 1100 J, Gladstone rd. . . 100 .. . 1800 . . 1800 K, Gladstone rd. .. .100 .. 1000 .. 1100 L, Gladstone rd. . . 380 .. . 4460 .. . 4600 M, Gladstone rd.. . 450 .. 2500 .. . 3000 N, Gladstone rd. .. . 452 .. 1800 .. 2000 0, Wharf . 450 .. 2600 .. . 3000