RATES AT FOXTON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 243, 11 September 1940, Page 9

RATES AT FOXTON

HARBOUR BOARD’S SECTIONS. REQUEST FOrTrEMISSION. A deputation consisting of Alessrs J. Linklater (chairman) and E. J. Bowater, of the Foxton Harbour Board, waited on the Manawatu County Council at its meeting yesterday to ask for the remission of rates recently charged by the council for unused sections controlled by the board at Foxton Beach. The council pointed out that it had, no power to release the board from payment of the rates, but that the board had remedies by seeking a revaluation and by increasing the rates in its area to meet the demand. Mr Linklater said the system up to last year was that the council rated the board only on its occupied sections Last year the council sent a demand for £94 for rates on the unoccupied sections. There were 85 acres of these, and 116 of the sections were in rolling sandhills and others in swamp. These were valued at £10,045. For this the council was asking for £9-1 in rates last year and for £97 for the current year. The board’s request was that the council should remit these amounts. He thought that members of the council would agree tiiat this was an extraordinary circumstance. The hoard was not a wealthy body, it was struggling on because of a lack of shipping. It could not meet the amounts. The board was not unmindful of the help the couneil had given it in the past and appreciated this very much. Mr Bowater said that the council knew the difficulties of the Harbour Board and that if there was a loss it would fall on the ratepayers. The chairman (Air AV. E. Barber) said that the Harbour Board had received notification of the valuation. There were no objections raised and the amount went through oil the valuation roll. The council was in duty bound to collect the rates. How the matter was to be adjusted he did not know. If the council could not give the board a remission the amount would have to fall on the ratepayers. “VALUATION TOO HIGH.”

Air Linklater said he quite realised that the board should have joined in having a revaluation carried out at the time when it was faced with demands for rates for the sections. However, it had now decided to ask lor a revaluation. Anyone would agree that the valuation of the sections was lar too high. The county clerk (Air A. K. Drew) pointed out that the valuation had to be placed in the rate book, and the latter had to coincide with the valuation roil.

Air Linklater said he appreciated the council’s difficulty, but the board had its own difficulties. The board had never paid any fates on unoccupied sections before. He thought it would be wise for him to go to Wellington to point out the position to the ValuerGeneral. The board did not object to sections being valued when they were occupied. Cr Barber said that if relief could be obtained from the department the council might also be able to offer some relief. Mr Linklater, in answer to a question, said that tho board’s rating area also extended over Palmerston North, Foxton and the Kairanga County. . Cr H. J. Fagan commented that the facilities at the beach were used by people in the whole of the board’s area, and it might bo advisable ior the board to increase its rate to obtain the amount needed. It would not be a very big increase. Air Linklater suggested that the council would surely not like to take a rate from an area- which was obviously over-valued. Cr R. A. Wilson said that the fairest way for the board to meet the position would bo to increase its rating. The valuation was five times too high at least, said Air Linklater. Air Drew said that the council had no power to release the board from payment of the rates unless it could prove absoluto poverty. “We are pretty poverty-stricken all right,” said Air 'Linklater. Air Drew added that hospital levy had to be paid on tho valuation, and all sorts of other things. “Why should tho Afanawatu County carry it all?” asked Cr J. Boyce. “We are only a portion of the district.” “The only point is that you would receive more rates than you are entitled to,” said Air Linklater. Before the deputation withdrew Air Linklater said that the suggestions of the council were appreciated and he would put them before the board when it met agairn Air Bowater said that if the board were to keep on increasing rates outside the immediate area of Foxton the ratepayers would raise the question of the advisability of keeping the port of Foxton in existence.