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Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1924, Page 2

Tiie Town Clerk of Dunedin in a lengthy report to tlio City Council lias reviewed the various forms .of rating. Dunedin retains the annual value system. which is practically the yearly rent value. The Dunedin writer i.s opposed to rating on unimproved values for reasons which aio given at considerable length, and in regard to which comparative tables have been prepared, comparing Dunedin, with other cities of the Dominion where unimproved rating is in force. The Town Clerk, however, lias made a suggestion in regard to rating unused land in a city within a specified zone which is interesting and worth considering in the light of civic developments possible if the land were used instead of being allowed to remain fallow and increase in value from the improvements going on round about Tim proposal is that the Council would year by year define tlm zone within which all vacant and un-

occupied lands would lie subject to a percentage increase in the tate demand. If it were found that a 50 per cent, advance was not sufficient to compel the use of the area, then the rate could be .■till furhtor advanced and by this means that portion of the city that had already been developed by the provision of tramways, gas. water, sewerage, electric light, and reasonably decent thoroughfares, would very soon be used to its maximum capacity. By an extension of the prescribed zone year by year or as necessity demanded, a very effective control would hei exercised upon the direction of development, with the result that it would lieeome a much more simple matter to provide for the requisite extensions of all civic services than is now the case where development tends to proceed at random, perhaps. not one of iis directions lieing of sufficient magnitude to warrant the capital outlay that i.s entailed in the extension of many of the utility services that are looked for. Rationally controlled development is the goal to he attained, and the economics of the question call for a certain measure of concentration. which should not he mistaken for congestion, because there is a world of difference between the two. Therefore, a specially-devised tax on unused lands within a specified zone—and

that is tile gravamen of the idea—should seem to offer outstanding advantages. providing, as it would, far greater scope for control in development than a land value tax made applicable throughout the wide area of a city constituted a.s Dunedin is. with its large areas of rural lands that may not call for further development for many years. The advantage to the local body in the increased rating would ho pf material help, but the real idea

of the movement is to cause the land to be used profitably as part und'parcel cf the city development. The idea is one which will attract considerable attention, and in some form or other may be expected to come to pass in due season if civic advancement is to follow progres.-*ivc lines.

Hospital levies appear to be a disturbing factor in most quarters with contributing local bodies just now. The Aniuri County Council which is in the large Canterbury district, seems to have good ground for complaint in regard to the depletion of its funds for hospital maintenance. In protesting, the Council’s representative stated the finding of funds for hospitals was becoming a great burden on the ratepayers. In the Aniuri County it was stated tne hospital rate represented one third of the total revenue. Canterbury has well equipped hospitals and kindred institutions to maintain, and as it is the aim of the management to keep its large buildings well equipped and quite up to date, it can be understood that expenditure is keeping up. 'I here is ail agitation on the part of the contributing local bodies that a rating limit should lie set, so that the demands should not continue to grow more and more exorbitant. The expenditure in Canterbury this year is estimated to reach £1 (>3.210, which is an increase of £21,G00 on the expenditure for the past financial year. This great increase is considered really astounding, and the opinion is beftig expressed that hospital expenditure is going beyond reasonable bounds. For' tlie Board it is claimed that there is not any extravagance ami that all the expenditure is done advisedly. It is said the population is increasing and more provision lias to he made for the patients, while the high standard of the institutions must Ire inantniiied. There are several special institutions, all of which call for extra expenditure in various branches to make them as useful as possible. And so the cost mounts tip. But there must surely lie a limit, and it is lor the ratepayers who are called on to pay to decide when the maximum is readied. Some day there will he a call to overhaul critically the expenditure, hut apparently that day is not yet.