The Hutt News THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1928. BOROUGH RATES.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 17, 20 September 1928, Page 4

The Hutt News THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1928. BOROUGH RATES.

There are. occasions—all too frequent alas —when the postman's whistle means a call to bills owing and one such call we have just had borne to our ears when that official left ratepayers their rate "demand." Such demand, while we know it is essential, produces no glow of satisfaction, quite the contrary, and this year many will rail against the fates as the demand is for—in very many instances —a sum larger in varying degrees than was '' demanded last year. If we, as a borough, are to progress along sound and modern lines, if improvements and innovations are to be carried out so that the conditions of life may approach the best obtainable, it is essential that money must be found and all we can ask is that tnis money shall be expended to the best possible advantage. From their rate demand people generally see that our Council this year is asking for more, but on all hands residents have ample evidence that the nioriey is most certainly being wisely and well spent. The explanation of this increased sum demanded is perfectly simple: a revaluation of most parts of the borough has been made by the Government Valuation Department and the result has been a levelling up of values, particularly in the business area and in practically the whole of the newer area in the east of the borough. To our readers it must be gratifying to know that the total rate in the pound struck this year is less by more than one penny in the pound on the rate known as General and which is calculated on the unimproved value and the water rate —which is assessed on the capital value—has been reduced to users of water from 2% to 1% on annual value. Those who do not use the supply pay half the above rates so they also participate in this drop. The Hospital and Charitable Rate again shows an increase—this year £800 more —but this is beyond our Council's control, it being the levy put upon our Borough by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Since the inception of the Loans Board a new regulation has been enforced. The policy in vogue prior to the Board taking control was to add the first year's interest on the loan to the amount required for the object in view when the loan was Taised. Now, however, the Board insists that the first year's interest must be paid by the bor-

rower from the rate struck to meet the loan and not added to the loan. Quite a considerable sum of money (notably to meet the demands of unemployment) has been raised by our Council and a very considerable portion of the increased revenue asked for this year is to meet the interest charges on the money so raised. Again it must be borne in mind that many new streets have been in the past year or two opened up and these demand a considerable number of additional street lights and this must increase the total cost of our street-lighting de-. partment. To us it is evident that no charge of extravagance can be brought against the civic authorities, it is just the result of our advancement and to the individual ratepayer there is the consolation and compensation of the enhanced value of his property from a selling point of view. Ratepayers have the right, by giving notice forthwith, of appealing against the increased valuation and those who feel that they have such a grievance will, no doubt, avail themselves of this procedure.