DIFFERENTIAL RATING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9142, 11 May 1908, Page 5

DIFFERENTIAL RATING.

SYSTEM ADOPTED BY RANGITIKE.£ COUNCIL. : Tho question of differential rating, that is a different rale for different Ridings, was discussed at tho meeting of Raugicikei Council at Marton ou Saturday. The system was opposed by four members of the Council representing the Northern Ridings where now works are constantly required and the principle of making ratepayers in separate Ridings bear the cost of read construction was considered by them to be unfair.

In an opinion on the subject received from a solicitor tha principle .of differential rating is shewn to be tbe legal one. Cr. (Janton, on behalf of ratepayers in the Te Krvpna Riding, 'appealed for fairpiay, riettiers in his Riding had been stuck in tho mud for many years and had paid their rates cheerfully because they recognised __ their money was going to a body of men who had always dealt fairly with it. Now, whoa they wanted assistance, they were told they had to boar the cost themselves. It was unfortunate that tlie valuations had increased more in the Lower Hidings than those in the Northern districts. In order’ito get tins rectified they had voluntarily asked for a new valuation but'the application was held over for a year. He instanced the case of tho Eketalm.ua County Council to show that the system was unfair and unworkable. Tins Council alter wording differential rating for sometime had now reverted to the old order of things. He had received legal advice from Messrs Skerrett and Wylie and they laid it down clearly that tho position was not affected, by the new. Act. Thus the Anneal Court decision in Crawford v. Hutt County Council would hold good in law. In this case it was held that Counties were divided, into Ridings for representation only and not for rating purposes. They were an expiring Council and it seemed ;unfair to spring a surprise on tho ratepayers who wore unacquainted with what was being done. He hoped the Council would allow the ratepayers au opportunity of ascertaining the facts of the case. Cr.Balloy said aM far as members of Council were concerned they had a reputation of doing- what was right and fair under all circumstances. Ho held mat tho present time was inopportune for bringing the matter before tho Council. It would bo bettor to allow the proposed now system to stand over for 12 months, as there were many small struggling settlers in the two Northern Ridings—Awarua and To Kapua —.who would be serious!;)affected by differential rating. Resides, many of tho settlors had experienced. bad tunes lately ana taking all tilings into consideration it would bo better that the settlers themselves wore given the opportunity of knowing- something more about tin' proposed alteration. Or. Duncan spoke against the principle of separate rating. Ho instanced the case of two Ridings to show how unfair the new system of rating would bo. The Erowhon Riding was beyond the Awa-rua and tfie only outlet was the road through Awarua which was a heavily roaded district and would necessarily have a heavy expenditure. At the lower end of Pohonui a settler on one side of tho boundary would be paving a IR'd rate against a smaller rate contributed by another who would use the roads quite as much.

Cr. Fraser favoured separate rating if the law directed it to he so arul'ho had legal advice to say it was the only legal form. There could be no two systems though personally ho preferred general rating. Cr. McGregor reminded members that the question was brought before the Council long ago, so chafe they were not springing any surprise on the ratepayers. Ho ridiculed the suggestion to leave the question to the next Council as the present body was in a better position to come to a decision. The boundaries of Ridings could bo altered if found to be unfair to some ratepayers. Cr. Simpson (chairman) said that the valuation in the Lower Ridings had largely increased which meant a big burden on them in assisting to maintain roads in the back blocks, whereas the valuations in the Upper Ridings were comparatively low and the position was not so serious to them, although they appeared to be heavily rated. The law provided for differential rating and it should bo given effect to. A motion that the system of differential rating he adopted, was then put to the meeting, and carried by one vote. The Cnairmau, Ors. A. McGregor, A. G. Simpson, D. Fraser and B. P. Lethbridge supported the motion and Crs. R. T. Bailey, M. Morrison, O. J. Canton and T. Duncan voted against it.