LOCAL BODY TAXATION

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1930, Page 5

LOCAL BODY TAXATION

NEW SYSTEM FOR N.Z

MOVE BY MUNiCTAL ASSN

'By Telegraph, Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, May 2

Import)'.lit decisions concerning local body taxation and the rating of urban farm lands were arrived at a meeting in Wellington to-day of the Executive of the Municipal Association of New

I ’aland, lii announcing the results to tiio Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle), the ' Mayor of Fielding (Mr C. E. Taylor) stated that a special committee had been appointed to investigate the whole question of local body taxation, and revenue in New Zealand. The personnel is as follows: Messrs M. I l ’. Luckie (Deputy-' Mayor of Wellington), G. T. Lewin, (Town Clerk, Dunedin), P. Skoglund (Town Clerk, Stratford), W. J. Rogers ''.Mayor of Wanganui,) T. Jordan ''Mayor of Masterton), J. O’Shea ''City Solicitor, Wellington), Mr C. E. Taylor (Mayor of Fielding). “The questions concerned in the inouirv are due for review,” said Mr Taylor. “We desire to find a system 6f taxation that will be fair for the whole Dominion, and for all classes of ratepayers. The Committee that the .Executive lias to-day set up to go into the who’e matter will meet from time to time in Wellington to see if it can bring forward to the Association’s next conference proposals designed to nhme local body taxation on a better basis.

“It seems to be a very- good move,” commented the Minister.

FARM LANDS IN BOROUGH.

Mr Taylor informed the Minister that the Executive would forward to him within a fortnight a special report setting out what legislative action they considered necessary on the question of the rating of urban farm lands. The Association asked that the report be given . legislative effect to. At the executive meeting yesterday it had been decided to urge that Councils be allowed to give relief up to forty per cent., instead of thirty per cent., as proposed originally, and that the area affected be reduced below the three acres proposed, if the local body decided by resolution to give relief in such cases.

“The Association is desirious of giving relief,” added Mr Taylor, “ but we do not desire a full classification of our boroughs to give relief to a number of ratepayers.” He mentioned that another new suggestion of the Executive was that the decisions of Councils should he reviewed by a tribunal consisting of either a Magistral ;d<ine or a Magistrate, and two Assessors, whose decision would be final. ;

The Minister: “Was that a unanimous decision of your conference?”

Mr Taylor: “Yes; and a second resolution was carried condemning the Bill promoted last year.” The Minister said lie was glad Mr Taylor had dealt with the question. Some form of rating relief was absolutely essential. The representations of the Conference would receive lis fullest consideration.