FARMS IN BOROUGHS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3963, 2 July 1929, Page 1

FARMS IN BOROUGHS.

An announcement was recently 'made by the Minister of Internal Allah's that the Government had decided to introduce legislation this session providing for ra classification of lands in boroughs for rating purposes, in accordance with the recommendations of the Otaki.Peilding 'Commission. Iks determination to proceed with this valuable reform, for which the preparatory work was done iby j]ts predecessors, has been generally commended, for, as Mr. de la Parrel le remarked, some of the s'mall farmers in boroughs have to carry “an impossible burden” of local rates, and his inquiries showed that “real hardship existed probably in the majority of boroughs.” But while the Feilding plan promises a comprehensive amelioration of these conditions, its application must be a laborious and protracted process. There are over one hundred boroughs and town districts rated on unimproved values, the principal cause of inequitable taxation, and after the legislation has been passed an analysis of each district’s whole area must be made before relief can ibe given. As a tempoirary measure, provision was made last year by which a local authority eould recommend an appeal for a, reduction of the valuation in individual eases. Hitherto, this measure has been regarded as defective, because appeals against onerous (taxation were to be decided in the hirst instance by the taxing authority; the reference of approved appeals to the ValuerGeneral appeared to be merely a formality, since an amendment of valuations was to be used only for the- assessment of local rate’s. WJiat has happened in the Auckland district is that local authorities have exercised their powers judiciously, and a large number of applications

have been endorsed. Without excuse or explanation, the ValuerGeneral has returned them all with the intimation that he is “unable to make any ireduietion.” The Government has announced its sympathy with “the small, struggling farmer who has for years past been paying rates entirely out of proportion to the services received or receivable by him or to the possible revenue that lie can derive from his land,” and has simultaneously denied hijin the relief which the local authority concerned considered due to him. This extraordinary attitude will create consternation among the small farmers in the majority of boroughs and town districts. General legislation may eventually be applied to their benefit, but why should they he condemned to carry “an impossible burden” for'an indefinitely longer period? This Government has made great professions of abolishing “government by Dialer-in-. Council;” yet in this matter, of admittedly vital concern to a large number of people, it has talkien advantage of a technically to repudiate the authority of Parliament, and, wholly upon its own motion, decide that a concession regarded by Parliament as urgently necessary shall be refused without the slightest excuse. By order of the Government, last year’s legislation has been made a dead letter.—'Auckland Herald.