UNIMPROVED VALUE RATING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 509, 16 October 1912, Page 5

UNIMPROVED VALUE RATING.

At the invitation of ex-Cr D. 3. Young a very large number of citizens attended at the Municipal Hall to consider the question of rating on unimproved values. His Worship the Mayor (Mr E. H. Hardy), presided, and in introducing Mr Young, congratulated tho convenor on the number of townspeople in attendance to hear his views and also thanked Mr Young for the opportunity given for the expression of opinion on the question by the audience.

Mr Young very forcibly advocated the system of unimproved value taxation as the proper and fairer means of raising . taxes and pointed out that such a system of taxation has been adopted in over 100 counties, etc., in ISlew Zealand and eight polls in favour of the reform has been carried this year. Within the past few years the unimproved value of Te Kuiti has risen from £16,000 to £116,950. Such towns as Stratford, Feilding, Westport, Mirimar, etc., all progressive towns are all rated on the unimproved values, proof enough that rating on unimproved values has passed the initial stage, and reached the realm of practical politics.' Mr Boddie opposed the principle mainly on account of the peculiar conditions under which Te Kuiti existed.

Messrs Arrowsmith, J. B. Young, Falwasser, Mabbitt, and others spoke in favour of the system, and while no motion was passed actually confirming the applied term of unimproved value rating.

Mr Young was congratulated for bringing the matter forward, and we understand that steps will now be taken to secure definite shape for the proposal becoming the accepted ruling system for the borough.