URBAN FARMS BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1929, Page 5

URBAN FARMS BILL

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) ? WELLINGTON, October 16. The Local Bills Committee heard further evidence to-day from representatives of various local bodies with’ regard to the Urban Farm Lands Rating Bill. . The/ Mayor of Feilding said if the Committee could t not recommend in the, direction !;of the ,1928' amendment he would suggest the matter should stand over tor twelve months to Klloit the Municipal Association to report to the Government.

The Mayor of .Rangiora- said the Rangiopa Farm Lands Rating Act was repealed ’ last year, arid now formed portion of the Municipal Corporation Act Amendment Act, 1928, and all Boroughs might now x give relief. Rangiora was previously enabled to do this. The act worked well. It gave relief to actual 1 "farm land! 1 occupiers, and met the case of those owners' as far as was possible without undue hardship to t) ordinary taxpayer." Under this Act if a ratepayer had land over three acres in extent he-applied- to the Council for recommendation for valuation for rating purposes.' ' Every application - to date has been granted and a revaluation was tnade by Government officers. So far as is known no objection to revised valuations have ever been made. A third of the Borough has already been classed as farm lands. He stated the objections his Council had to the proposals in the Bill, and also asked to have it held over. This, was the burden of several other witnesses, including Wbodville, Wanganui, Motueka and' New Plymouth.