The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1920. BOROUGH RATING SYSTEM.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 589, 3 December 1920, Page 2

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1920. BOROUGH RATING SYSTEM.

After taking note of the large number of prospectively good building sites in the Borough of Pukekohe which would be available if the owners would cut their holdings up and put roads through, the desirability of forcing the pace by adopting the unimproved values system of rating commends itself to the judgment of progressively minded people. When it is considered what acreage of land is now locked up in the very heart of King Street, and the blocks on either side of the main thoroughfare, the conclusion is driven home that Pukekohe is being held back by the locking up of good business and residential areas.

Of course, we shall be lold that the unimproved values system would not be equitable or practicable in Pukekohe on account of there being so much agricultural land in the borough. Similar arguments were used in Palmerston North twenty years ago, but the experience of that centre, now one of the largest inland towns in New Zealand, belied the dismal prophesy of the "six apostles" as the half-dozen men who owned most of the vacant lands in Palmerston North were dubbed. It was found that, after the introduction of the new rating system, houses and business premises sprang up numerously, the population increased, and whatever extra rates the agriculturalists had to pay were amply compensated for by the fact that the greatly increased population enabled the agriculturalists to sell their produce locally instead of having to pay freights and cartage for export. A simiar change for the better would occur in Pukekohe, where the troubles incidental to the export of produce are giving producers much concern just now. Under the present system -the man who improves his lands and erects a he use, a shop, or other buildings thereon is penalised for his enterprise, while x the speculator who sits tight and holds on can afford to wait until some more progressive person comes along and pays him his price —community created values. The present Borough Council would be doing a crowning act of good service to Pukekohe if it would investigate this matter logically and give the people an opportunity of voting either for the retention of the present rating basis or for the adoption of the unimproved, values system. The latter method must be adopted sconer or later if the town is to have a fair chance of progress and be freed from the strangle-hold of a few speculative property holders who, though they may haVe rendered great service to the town in the past, are now obstacles to progress.