OTAKI FARM LANDS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3996, 12 September 1929, Page 3

OTAKI FARM LANDS.

INCLUSION IN BOROUGH. FARMERS OBJECT. Objection was voiced by a deputation of Otaki fanners which waited on the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle) on Monday to the inclusion of certain farm lands in the borough, as proposed in the Otaki Borough Adjustment and Farm Lands Rating Bill, now before the House of Representatives. The member for the distinct, Mr. W. H. Field, said that the farmers concerned had gone to much trouhie and expense to gain exclusion from the borough rates, and the Bill had the effect'of bringing -them back into the borough again. He submitted that the Bill would do them a grave injustice, and lie expressed the hope that the measure woiild'be amended in such a way as tip give them relief from the increase in rates which was anticipated. If the Government went on with the Bill as it stood it was probable that the. farmers concerned would petition Parliament, and this would delay the passage of the measure.

Mr. M. L. Luckie said it had been openly and freely admitted that the farm lands should never have been included in the borough. Some dozen farmers had been saddled with the burden of about onethird of the special rates, and as

the result of objections stated to the Commission of Inquiry the farm lands were excluded. Following a further Commission last year, how • ever, it was now proposed to reinelude the lands in the borough. The unimproved values had previously been reduced, hut it was now proposed to rate the properties concerned on the old valuations. Air.

Luckie submitted that the inclusion of the lands in the borough was not justified, as the farmers had different interests from the remainder of the borough ratepayers. The Minister referred to the Commission set up by the late Government to go into the question of rating of farm lands in boroughs, and said that since he had become Minister of Internal Affairs lie had

ieen inundated with requests that

some form, of relief should he given to the boroughs. He thought they would recognise the necessity for something to be done in that matter. He had to consider whether injustice would be done to a num-

ie!r of farmers in Otaki Borough by jeing excluded.' “I think your condition is,” said the Minister, “that lie farmers 3 T ou represent- and who

have been excluded from the 'borough are a little afraid that the Borough Council may put rates and taxes on them! to a large extent?” Mr. Luclkie: “That has been the experience.” The Minister said lie quite agreed

that many boroughs had been in the first place made too large. He said ho would have to go very carefully

into the matter. The Bill was already framed, and it seemed somewhat difficult after the matter had been reported on by a Commission to deviate from the proposals. If

he acceded to the wishes of the deputation, probably many people in Otaki would immediately petition to bring the farmers hack into the borough. The Minister promised to go further into the matter.