PAEROA BOROUGH RATES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5099, 11 March 1927, Page 2

PAEROA BOROUGH RATES

MAYOB STATES THE POSITION. RIVERS IMPROVEMENT CHARGES. Arising out of the discussion at last night’s meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council, relative to raising a loan for the purpose of erecting swimming baths at Paeroa. the Mayor , (Mr W. Marshall) explained the position of the borough with regard to rates. He pointed out that with the £ new Criterion bridge loan the rates struck to cover existing authorisations would amount to 12 15-32 d in the £. AH the money authorised had not been raised, but subsequent councils could raise it and collect the rates, for the reason that they had the authority of the ratepayers to do so. It was possible that the total would never be collected, as tee water reticulation loan and council chambers loan rates should not be required. That being so, the ultimate aggregate would be reduced ta about 1117-32 d in the £, which might be further reduced to, say, a total of lid, as by law the loan rates, struck were ten per cent, over what was estimated f°r requirements. The total rate, necessary to cover the total amount naw borrowed or in course of being borrowed would necessitate an increase on the present year’s rates of at least 2Vad, making « total of exclusive of the proposed swimming batns rate. In addition, it was his duty to inform ratepayers that an attempt would probably be made next session of Parliament to _ introduce legislation to place upon the land a certain proportion of the cost of the Waihou and Ohinemuri 'Rivers Improvement Scheme. In addition to that, there would be the necessity for .the setting up a river board and the collecting of a rate for maintenance of the scheme. This, he was afraid, might be a heavy burden, and it was well for ratepayers to know exactly what confronted them. Cr. E. Edwards considered that it was not advisable to make such a statement public. He thought it would be better to adopt an attitude that the borough would not be rated for the rivers improvement scheme and fight all opposition.

The Mayor said he did not wish to cause any alarm, but he did riot like living in a fool’s paradise. If a river board was set up there would certainly be a rate for maintenance. . Cr. J. W. Silcock said it was hoped that the rivers improvement scheme would be nationalised.

The Mayor said he did.not object to fighting the levying of a rate, but the possibility of paying had to be faced, and the ratepayers should be aware o’f the future possibilities. Cr. H. J. Hare said that the Government would make an .attempt to collect a rate as 'tlie riverworks were completed. ( Cr. F. B. Flatt that the ratepayers should be informed what their rates were likely to be, and that the council was authorised to spend the balance of the loan money not yet raised. It was impossible to foretell : what the incoming or future councils j might do. Cr. Silcock said that before the Government collected a river rate the matter would be fought by every I°cal body 'from Matamata to Thames. The Mayor said that he had beep called into a conference of officials quite recently at Paeroa ip connection' with the rivers improvement scheme, and had been requested to supfily certain particulars relating t° land values and rating areas. Cr. J. Pinder stated that the Mayor’s remarks would jeopardise the prospect of getting the swimming baths loan carried.

The Mayor said that he would ba very sorry to think that his remarks should prejudice the action of ratepayers at the poll, which he hoped would be carried. As the chief exponent of the council’s policies arid lea®*-’ of the present council it was his duty to state the position as he saw it. He had no desire to cause any alarm or uneasiness.

The resolutions in connection with the swimmnig baths were moved by Cr. Silcock and carried unanimously.