BOROUGH RATING

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3917, 12 March 1929, Page 3

BOROUGH RATING

COUNCIL FAVOURS REVALUATION AND EXTENSION OF BOROUGH. OR, THOMPSON WITHDRAWS NOTICE OF MOTION. At last night’s Borough Council meeting a letter was received from the Foxton Chamber of Commerce recommending the Council to give serious consideration to the question of having a revaluation made of the whole borough. This decision was arrived at as a result of a notice of motion moved at the last meeting of the Borough Council by Cr. R. J. Thompson to the effect that steps be taken to have the rating on faifm lands within the ,borough reduced. The Chamber, at its monthly meeting, gave full consideration to the matter and passed a resolution recommending the revaluation of the borough in preference to the carrying out of Cr. Thompson’s suggestion.

Cr. Thompson said that if the Chamber of Commerce’s suggestion Avas adopted it Avould pi-obably do away A\ r ith the necessity of considering his n'otice of motion. He had been very pleased to see the Chamber of Commerce take the matter up and arrive at such a level-headed decision. He had brought the mattr ,up because so far, no effort had 'been made to equalise the taxation on farming land in the Borough since the advent of Avater and drainage and electricity. At present the rates on purely pastoral land averaged £1 per acre, and as property in the business and residential portion of the toAvn had succeeded in getting their values reduced the result meant a decrease in the total unimproved value of the Borough as a Avliole, and incidentally an increase in the rales. The oAvners of rural land in the borough, although in the minority, were entitled to be supplied Avith service for which they Avere being rated, but it remained for the majority of the ratepayers to say if they Avould agree. To give this justice to .the farming lands meant an increase in rates ail over the Borough, and so it Avould naturally be opposed by the majority. The. notice of motion proposing to set up special values of farm lands for rating purposes Avas suggested as a more reasonable remedy than for the owners of farming land to demand services for AA'hich they are paying rates. At the same time, emphasis had to be placed on the tact that a course of action avouUl have to be adopted Avhich ir. individual instances Avould have secured the relief sought, namely, to follow the example set by the toAvn property owners and merely object to the present values direct to the Valuation Department,. 'Such an action would .have been above criticism, as this Avas a private citizen’s right, at any time. Instead of this course being fo'UoAved, the matter Avas dealt with openly. In vieAV of the reeoinmendation from the Chamber of Commerce that the Borough be revalued, he mm had no intention of proceeding with the notice of motion if the recommendation Avas adopted. 'Cr. M. H. Walker, Avho seconded the nlotice of motion, said that he Avas quite prepared to AvithdraAV the notice of motion in favour of a revaluation of the Avliole borough, but he Avas still of opinion that some relief should be afforded the farming community in the borough. The Toavu Clerk (Mr. Wan. Trueman) said that the borough Avas last revalued in 1917. •Cr. John Ross: The time is now opportune for having another revaluation made then. I have much pleasure in moving in that direction and that the Avork be carried out as soon as possible.

ICV. Walker seconded the motion and in doing so said that the Council should not lose sight of the fact that the borough boundaries should be extended. If the borough Avas increased the income Avould be increased and the general burden lessened.

Or. Thompson Avas granted permission to AAnthdraw his notice of motion and the motion that a revaluation of the borough be made immediately Avas put and carried unanimously.

Cr. Walker’s suggestion that the borough boundaries ,!>e extended •was given consideration, the Town Clerk pointing out that an Act of Parliament Avould have to be passed before the boundaries could be altered. An old map of the BoVougli Avfis produced, showing the borough as including the south side of Purcell St., Patrick Street and all that land lying to the east as far back as the Cemetery, Avhich was some years ago, allowed to be excluded from the borough.

The Mayor suggested leaving the (matter over for the consideration of the incoming Council, but on the ‘motion of Crs. Roore Rangiheuea and M. 11. Walker it Avas decided that, steps he taken to increase the area of the borough.