RATEPAYERS’ MEETING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4452, 26 June 1875, Page 2

RATEPAYERS’ MEETING.

Last evening the usual monthly meeting of the ratepayers was held in the side-room of the Odd Fellows’ Hall, the president, Mr. James O’Shea, occupying the chan-. The minutes were read and confirmed, and sundry accounts passed for payment. CORPORATION V. JEFFS, Mr. C. Iv. J epps presented to the meeting a note he had received from Messrs. Hart and Buckley, solicitors, advising him not to incur further expense in appealing to the Supreme Court to quash the decision of .the Resident Magistrate in the case The Corporation' v. Jeffs. The Chairsian wished to know why the document was presented to the meeting. Mr, Jeffs replied that the claim had been defended by him in order that a question, which affected all the ratepayers might be tested. He and others held that no law compelled them to pay in advance for water, whether supplied them by an individual, a company, or a corporation, and in bringing the matter to trial, he had done so on the promise of support from members of the association. That being so, he placed all information respecting the case before them. The Chairman : Have you not the water laid on ?

Mr. Jeffs replied that it wasdaid on, but he objected to pay for it before it was supplied. English law declared that no commodity should be paid for before.it was supplied. His baker or his butcher could not come to him and demand payment twelve monthsjn advance, and why should the Corporation,., for water was just ,as much a commodity as bread and meat ? The Chairman thought it bad policy to go to law with the Corporation. The instances mentioned by Mr. Jeffs, of the baker and butcher, were not analagous. The baker did not bake bread specially for him, or go to any expense specially for him; but the Corporatipn had laid on the water to his premises—they had incurred certain expenses, and as a matter of course, could collect rates for the water, which would assuredly be supplied. It was. just the same with all rates—church tithes in England for example—the money was collectable at one collection, though of course the collector might defer the collection ■if he chose, to suit the circumstances of individuals,’ thus a poor person might not be called upon till the end of the year. He must say he had been quite surprised to see that the cause had been argued on quibbles, such as the particular mode of signing and sealing books and papers. He did not approve of going to law on such points. Mr. Jeffs, with all due respect to the chairman, thought the action he' had taken was defensible, and evidence of that was afforded by the fact that the City Council had since agreed to take rates half-yearly. The sole point he had rested his case upon was the of paying twelve months in advance, but his solicitor had raised other points, which he (Mr. Jeffs) thought converted the case into a burlesque, notably, the objection that he had not been disproved to be a clergyman. As to the main point, he was quite sure the majority of the ratepayers agreed with him respecting the injustice of paying rates twelve months in advance. The Chairman : So it is. Mr. Jeffs contended another point was that the Council had not fixed a day on which the rate was to be paid. Instead pf doing that, they had adopted the unbusinesslike method of leaving the day to the Town Clerk. A certain day should have been fixed on which all people should be called upon to pay, not one person be allowed to pay at one time and another at a different time, just as it pleased the Town Clerk to make out the demand. The Chairman remarked that it was of no use discussing the matter further. The magistrate had decided against Mr. Jeffs. Mr. Jeffs : His decision was made before he went into court. The Chairman called Mr. Jeffs to order. After a few remarks from Mr. Übwin, who deprecated going to law with the Council, Mr. Worth defended the action taken by Mr. Jeffs. He did not desire to oppose the Council in any way, but he considered that inasmuch as there had been complaints of the injustice of the Council claiming a year’s rates at one payment, and Mr. Jeffs had been advised that the rate was bad, it became the association’s duty to have the matter tested. The matter then dropped.

THE WATER RATE. The Secretary (Mr. Waters) reported that in accordance with a resolution passed at the, last meeting of the association, the committee appointed had met to consider the question, and as a preliminary step had applied to the Council for permission to copy the water rate book. Permission had been granted, and a copy would be obtained. They proposed further to get the exact amount the waterworks had cost, ami then to ascertain the value of the property upon which rates might be levied, and when they got this information they would be able to find out the amount of the rate required to yield the necessary per-

assessjient of the city. The Secretary, pursuant to notice, moved to the effect that the association undertake to assess the city. He said it seemed to him that the bad 'assessment of the city was the source of all complaints, and if a dozen, or even fourteen or twenty members of the association could be induced to assist in making a fresh assessment it would confer _ a great benefit upon the city, and the service would not be soon forgotten by the ratepayers. It was not probable that it would be a profitless job either, so far as the association was concerned, because when the Council called for tenders for the assessment of the town the association could submit their assessment at a much lower cost than any person could undertake to do the work for. The assessment would he thoroughly trustworthy, because in this matter it was more than probable that in the multitude of counsellors there would be found wisdom, as each member of the committee might undertake to do a certain portion of the city. During the next four mouths, each would be able to thoroughly consider the value of the properties coming under his notice, and produce an assessment of it which would be accepted as satisfactory by every ratepayer. The motion having been seconded, Mr. Worth said before it was passed lie thought there was one matter they ou"ht to decide upon, viz., the principle on which an assessment should be made. The chief objection urged against the present assessment was that it° was°uuequitable, that the basis upon which the valuations were made was altogether erroneous. If they made a new assessment upon the principle now in vogue, the new assessment would he just as bad as that at present in force, and he doubted whether any persons, however experienced, would ever a rrree in making an assessment if guiaed hT their work by the existing vicious principle of multiplying the value of property by addin" so much per cent, upon old values, regardless of whether the relative values were in°the first instance correct. In many instances at present the properties were very unequally taxed, some much above their values, and others as much below. _ What was wanted was a new basis upon which to make assessments, and the to be adopted should be decided by public opinion, expressed through a strong public meeting _ specially called”to consider the matter. It _ did not follow that less funds should be provided for the Council ; perhaps under a new assessment an increased amount of taxes would be raised, but they would be raised more equitably. He sii""ested that should be postponed till a resolution brought forward by him some time previously, bearing on the principle of assessments, should have been decided. _ Mr. Toomath saw a great deal of gootl m the su""estions of the secretary and Mi. Worth,°but he objected to the idea that the association should enter into competition with any person who might tender to perform the work of assessing for the Council. 1 hen respecting Mr. Worth’s suggestion as to a public meetin", it would be better first to debate the matter’in committee, and having adopted a scheme, submit it to the public. The Chairman quite agreed with what had fallen from Mr. Toomath, and further proceeded to remark that he trusted the Council would not think the association was in any way interfering with it. The sole object of the association was to act as an arbitrator between the Council and the ratepayers where they mi"ht disagree. He believed the Council did its best for the city, hut public men did not always do the right thing, and when these little disagreements did occur the association wished to smooth matters over. _ CrwiN spoke in the same strain, and referred to the agreeable manner in which permission was given to copy the Corporation rate book. He expressed pleasure that Councillor George had moved in the matter of callm" upon the Government to pay rates. _ Messrs. Toomath .and Worth followed in the same strain. , . Mr Trueman spoke in favor of adopting the resolution. The assessment would cost nothing, and would be of great value. The Secretary in reply remarked that it they did not enter into competition for the assessment of the town, perhaps the Council would not adopt it, and the object of the association so far would be defeated. But even if the Council did not accept the assessment it would be useful as a basis of a general appeal. He did not wish to go to war with the Council, the association rather desired to assist the Council to get a proper assessment of the town. In reference to the proposed public meeting; he did not believe they could get a public meeting together just yet, but_ by-and-bye people would be more alive to their interest. It having been suggested that the decision should bo°adjoumed till next meeting, by which time a copy of the roll would he obtained, Ibis was agreed to. THE NIGHTSOIL QUESTION. _ Mr. Toomath said he had intended to bring before the meeting the mghtsoil question, but it was then too late, and he would defer his motion till next meeting. It was decided that those members of the association who complained of the action of the City Council should next day see the Grievance Committee on the subject. The meeting then adjourned.