FOXTON HARBOUR LIABILITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3953, 8 June 1929, Page 2

FOXTON HARBOUR LIABILITY.

BOARD’S TENTATIVE RATING SCHEME. DISCUSSED BY LEVIN BOROUGH COUNCIL. At. the (meeting of the Levin Borough Council on Tuesday evening, a letter was received from the Foxton Harbour Board covering a copy of a. special resolution passed by the Board levying an annual recurring differential rate on the capital value of all rateable property within (the Foxton Ha.rbou|r District. The proportions of the rate were: Foxton Borough 7-Bd, Palmerston North Borough l.lOd, Folding Borough 1.20 d, Levin [Borough 1.12 d, Manawatu County l-Bd, Kairanga County 1.24 d. Levin’s share in the raising of £IOOO to cover current liabilities of the Board in connection with its £16,000 loan and general expenses, would be £35. The Mayor (Mr. Blenkhornj explained that the Board, at its last meeting, expressed itself as having no intention of collecting the rate, hut considered tha,t it ought to be struck so that the (personal responsibilities of the members would be removed. (Whether or not that would be so, be could net say, but ho thought that he would ;be able to report something to the Council after the next meeting of the Board, whenever that might be. Cr. Falloon: It seems the thin end of the wedge. We don’t want a load put on to Levin Borough if we can avoid it. His Worship: If a rate is necessary, we cannot avoid it, and it is brought forward now so that it can be taken into consideration when the various local bodies are framing their estimates. fCU Parker said it was extraordinary that the Wliirokino Riding and the Shannon Borough were not included in the rating proposals. His Worship: They are only following the statutory authority; all our argument won’t alter it. When there were not so many motor lorries on the road and the boat was running regularly, their revenue was between three and four thousand a year. Wlhen they get the new; boat, they hope that things will revive a bit and that they will get enough revenue to keep the port going without calling upon the contributory bodies to assist.

Cr. Falloon: We have a capable representative on the Board to look after the interests of Levin, but how many members of the Board are there? His Worship: Nine. Cr. Falloon : And you have only one vote? His Worship: Each contributing body is represented. •Cr. Goldsmith: It is no good our talking muic-h, because it is the law of 'the land; but when this Act was passed, there was a good deal of carting between Levin and Foxton. The proportion is comparatively small at l-12d. His Worship: The share of the Manawatu County Council is £265, on the £IOOO basis, and their Chairman is a member of the Board. Cr. Parker: Carriers say that when they go over they are never sure that they will get their goods for two or three hours. That is the trouble froim. this part of the district. The communication was formally received.—Chronicle.