SPIRIT OF THAMES

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1932, Page 7

SPIRIT OF THAMES

RESPONSE TO APPEAL

COMMISSIONER’S PRAISE. THAMES, December 10. As theses nit of an appeal made by the Thames Commissioner, Mr C. L. Grange, more gates have been paid duroig 1932 than, in previous years. Asked if many property owners wer e taking advantage of a clause an the Rating Act which gave power, when, valuations were disputed, to place their own valuations on the land—the Government to take it over at the price stated in the event of reduction not being made—Mr Grange said the position was no different in Thames than elsewhere. “There has been a certain number of cases,” he said, “but in no instance has a. ridiculous price been( placed on » property. In all parts of New Zealand vacant town sections are a. responsibility to the owners, and there have been instances where the Government .property to relieve th e owne. r of rate hr* been requested to take over the responsibility. As’ far as my recollection goes ther e has been no case where a section has been valued by the owner at less than £SO. That would be for a pifece of .land that in normal times would be worth, say, £l5O, In such cages the values for bating .purposes have had to be reduced accordingly. “The real old mining .spirit is being displayed in the town,” he continued. “The appeal to the people to pay their rates has met with a response that has been astonishing, I cannot speak too highly of fhe spirit of the people.”