The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 29th, 1924. BOROUGH RATING.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 29th, 1924. BOROUGH RATING.

It was made rather clear at the Borough Council meeting last week that tlie local body was at the end of its tether in regard to Borough rating. TJuit is, the Council is up to its limit of rating at per pound in compliance with the statutory provision, and the result of the levy is inadequate for the requirements of the town. It was stated that the only means of meeting tho position was liv a revaluation, which would give an increased total on which to levy the limited rating |K>wer possessed by the Council. But for some unexplained reason, the Valuation Department will not agree to make a revaluation, and so the local body has to put up with a valuation made in 19U7. The seventeen year old valuation is long out of date as numerous sales of sections of late yearn make manifest, yet the Valuer-Gene-ral declines to alter his decision and so tin* local body remains crippled financially. The value of the Borough on the unimproved basis is only about £OO,OOO and it- is on that restricted sum the Council lias to levy its limited rating. With a limit to income und an unlimited demand for works there is naturally a stringency. This [is being accentuated just now by the increased use of the roads resulting fpom outside traffic, The shifting of

the timin'r skids to .'mother part of the town, has so diverted traffic that other roads have been brought into use, with the result that more streets continue to heroine cut up, and tho liabilities of the local body increase. '1 here is the intention of regulating the traffic, by confining it to a regular route. Rut the drivers of heavy vehicles, generally speaking are rather indifferent to ] uhlic traffic. They load heavily and maintain a high rate of speed. A| parentlv as long as they have transport laiilities they are indillereut to the rest of the public; <vrtninly there are many examples of 1 nought.'cssness. As tho Borough is finding, a difficulty in meeting relairs with the 1 resent- limit of rating, it «i!l need to iin| i>-«* some limit ol loading on the heavy vehicles, or else make these responsible for the damage hear some portion of the cost of repairs. Road transport with the modern vehules is going to heroine more and more a problem for serious consideration, and the question is particularly difficult for districts thiougli which heavy traflie passes hut derives no special revenue from the trading. As the Borough Council timls itself, so hampeied by its limited rating powers, due to an o'! solele valuation, it will require to press further for the relief to l.e obtained by a revaluation which would give it the means lor a greater iinoine more equitably spread over the whole comm unity.