“IN NO MAN’S LAND.”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4371, 27 January 1922, Page 1

“IN NO MAN’S LAND.”

A PATETONGA PUZZLE, Rated by all but claimed by none were briefly the remarks' pf Mr F. Bennett at a recent meeting at Patetonga, Mr Bennett, was endeavouring to describe the peculiar position his . property was in ’ regarding taxation.

An example of erratic rating is in the vicinity of Mr Bennett’s property, about two miles south of Patetonga settlement. Land directly alongside’ a main drain is classed half as dirpet and half as' indirect drainage, and rated accordingly, while other • land not contiguous with any drain is classed direct drainage. Abdut’ this point the Tahuna special rating area has its boundary, while the remainder of the Hauraki Plains County commences about 20 chains aw.ay. Now, part of Mr Ben-i nett’s property is in the Tahuna special rating area, .and h'.e pays rates to the TaJiuna loan, for which he derives no benefit. Part qf his property ,is between the boundaries of the Tahuna rating area and the remainder' of the county and part inside tne boundary of the remaining portion, of the county. He pays, in consequence, general county rates’, Tahuna loan rates,, direct drainage rates, ami if the machinery loan had been cafrried he would have pai.d, rates to that also, though he was not against the loan. Though he is saddled with all the abovementioned rates, that particular unfortunate ratepayer claims to have derived no benefit from any of them.