THE RATING SYSTEM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 931, 15 December 1910, Page 2

THE RATING SYSTEM.

UNIMPROVED V. CAPITAL VALUE. At Monday night’s Council meeting a circular letter was read from the Valuer-General, advising that the Secretary of State for the Colonies is desirious of obtaining further information on the subject of taxation of land values in New Zealand, and to that end has preferred a request that he be furnished with reports from important municipalities that have adopted the system of rating on the unimproved value, with special regard to the effect of that system on land speculation, on the building trade, on rent, and as to the convenience for raising local revenue. As it was required that the reports should be drawn up as far as possible on uniform lines it was suggested that replies be furnished to the following questions : —(i) Is it a deterient to the holding ot land for merely speculative purposes. (2) Does it tend to promote building. (3) Does it tend to reduce rates. (4) Is Its tendency against the maintenance of fictitious laud values, (5) Does it encourage the use and improvement of land. (6) Does it produce forced sales of land. (7I Does it attract population. (8) Are the general results of the system beneficial. (9) Are the ratepayers satisfied with the system. (10) Is there any difficulty in raising sufficient revenue.

The Town Clerk after reading the letter said the Mayor had suggested the following replies. If it was the wish of the Council that these replies should be altered it would be done: —(r) Not proved in Foxtou. (2) Not in this borough. (3) No. (4) Not known at present. ' (5) No. (6) No. (7) Not in Foxton. (8) Not known. (9) Ratepayers divided asking for another poll. (10) About the same as under the previous system.

Cr Robinson said that in the reply to question number 9 the number (eight) that had signed the petition asking for another poll should be inserted. Cr Coley said that the number of names that appeared on the petition was no criterion as to the feeling of the ratepayers on this question. There was no further discussion on the question and the replies as stated above will be forwarded to the Valuer-General to be sent on to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

[We have no hesitation in saying that the answers submitted are misleading, and should not have been sanctioned by the Council without due consideration. — Ed. H.]

petition for fresh poee.

REFERRED BACK. The petition from eight ratepayers, asking that a fresh poll be taken on the rating question with a view to reverting back to the capital system, which had, in accordance with the standing orders been allowed to lie on the table from last meeting, was again brought forward. The Mayor said that upon looking into the matter he had found that, according to the Act, it was necessary for a petition of this nature to be signed by 15 percent, of the ratepayers, which meant that the present petition required from 60 to 70 signatures before it could be dealt with. He suggested that it be referred back to the petitioners with an explanation of the position.—This was agreed to.