RATING ON THE UNIMPROVED VALUES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 395, 9 June 1908, Page 3

RATING ON THE UNIMPROVED VALUES.

The new system of local rating carried by a majority of the ratepayers, came in for a little discussion at last night’s Borough Council meeting. A communication from Cr Baker was read by the Mayor. Cr Baker asked that the suggested rales for the borough be carefully considered before being confirmed, and to adjust them so that no hardship be imposed upon those owning farm lands in the borough. Cr Baker stated that he had estimated the rates as advertised 3 ry-eqths of a penny in the £ under the new system, and on his property of 68 acres his rates would be £27 17s 10 5-126, which he said was equal to more than 8s an acre. He pointed out that his properly was on the boundary of the Manawatu County Council, and if the rate of V\ d in the £ levied by that county on capital value applied to his property, his rates would only total £g 8s 6j£d. He contended that the new rate was considerably more than double what he paid on the annual value, which latter he found quite heavy enough. He stated that he positively refused to pay such a “high ruinous rate,’’ because it was a “ monstrous tyranny and unparalleled injustice in the colony.” He thought that there should be an inside and outside rate. Let those who were benefiting by footpaths and lighting pay more. He would endeavour to have his property merged within theManawatu County Council boundary. He had been told by a Palmerston man that the new rate adopted would be the first nail in Foxtou’s coffin.

A councillor; Why doesn’t Foxton go lack on it then ? The only other Borough in a similar position to Foxton which included farm lands within its boundary, was Grey town. Cr Hennessy said that Cr Baker bad his remedy some time ago when the boundaries were altered, and Cr Baker interjected that be could not get out of it. Cr Hennessy said he would also be called upon to pay increased rates, which called forth an unsympathetic remark from Cr Coley. Cr Coley aired a grievance in reference to carrying drainage for the borough’s benefit, yet he never got assistance. He was opposed to the new system of rating. Cr Jenks : That is because you enjoy the important position of being a large land owner.

The Clerk stated that a number of mistakes had been made in the Government valuation roll.

After farther desultory discussion the matter dropped, and the following rates were struck : Proposed by Cr Coley and seconded by Cr Gray that the Foxton Borough Council do now make and levy the following rates for the period commencing on the first day of April, 1908 and ending on the 31st day of March 1909, namely:—A general rate of 2 and 15/16 of a penny, a library rate of 3/16 of a penny, a bridge rate of 3/16 of a penny, a street and roads rate of 5/16 of a penny, and a Shannon Bridge rate of 1/12 of a penny in the pound (the last three are annually recurring special rates) on rateable value on the valuation Roll of all rateable property within the Borough of Foxton on the basis of the unimproved value. Also a sanitation rate of 6d in the pound on all house property within the Borough on the basis of the annual rental value. Also that all the above rates will be payable at the office of the Foxton Borough Council in one instalment on Wednesday, the first day of July, 1908.