A. AND P. RATES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 383, 18 November 1932, Page 6

A. AND P. RATES

Our Own Correspondent.)

REMISSION REQUESTED BY DEPUTATION TO COUNCIL CONSIDERATION DEFERRED

(From

Prefacing its requests with a letter setting out its case a deputation from the -Opotiki A. and P. Association waited v upon the general purposes committee o'f the Opotiki Borough Council at its last meeting. Mr. Clem Black (president of the A. and P. Association), headed the deputation, the other members of which were Messrs. S. M. Jephson, C. Clark, and the secretary, Mr. T. H. Pearson. Mr. J. T. Tabb introduced the deputation. The secretary of the association wrote as follows: — "At a meeting of the executive of this association I was directed to write asldng that the council will reconsider its decisipn not to remit the rates on the sbow grounds for the current year. My executive views with concern the decision of "the council to collect rates from the association, after such a long period of years, during which the association has been free from paying rates. Previous to the year 1928-29, no condition wbatever was imposed, the rates always- being cheer- . fully remitted by previous councils. On August 14, 1929, a condition was imposed that the association agree to allow the show grounds to be used for sports and other public functions for 2*0 days per annum, the council to have control of the issue- of permits for such purposes. My association willingly agreed to the condition and the grounds have been used for sport and other public purposes and we are quite willing to allow the grounds to be so used in future.

Show an Asset "It should be needless to point ont that the sbow grounds being situated within the borough the annual show is a distinct asset to the town and is a fixture which attracts a considerable number of persons. This must be of g-reat benefit to the large number of shopkeepei's, and we think the material benefit which accrues to the business people through the annual show, should be taken into consider-

ation. We maintain that the association is assisting the borough ratepayers and we feel justified in asking them through your council to assist us. "We wish to draw the council's attention to the fact that we are paying the sum of £34 10s per annum in rent for the borough leasehold portion of the show grounds, so that the association considers that a reasonable contribution is being paid to the borough finances Effecfc of Remission "The association has been of ihe opinion that allowance was being made when the borough estimates were being prepared for such a remission. As the rates have, so far as we are aware, never been collected, and the borough has apparently always been able to balance its budget, we hardly think it will affect the position this year. "My executive, therefore, respectfully requests that the council will eonsider the association's request on its nierits, taking into consideration the work that is entailed in eonducting- an annual show, and that the council will see fit to eo-operate with the association and help it along. "Tha matter of the holding of winter sliows is frequently discussed and the association has this in mind in its arrangement of the show buildings, for which a fair amount of money is being spent. "Every assistance will be rendered by the association for the running of a winter show and the buildings will be at the disposal of the promoters." Time For Consideration Prior to the deputation arriving at the council cbambers when the letter was being read by the town clerk, Dr. H. M. Budd brought forward a point of order contending that the business should be left until the councillors had had a sufficient time to eonsider the questions involved. On this, Cr. Tabb, who told the meeting that he had promised to introduce the deputation, asked councillors whether they were prepared to come to a decision upon the matter that evening. The Mayor (Mr. J. Thompson) ruled that Cr. Budd was quite in order for, according to standing orders, should any councillor wish to give notice of motion on such a question, he was quite entitled to do so. Cr. Budd then moved that the consideration be deferred until such time as the neeessary notice of motion be given. Subsequently the council decided to hear the deputation and in addressing the council, Mr. Black said that the matter had been explained in their letter. The association felt that they were merely asking the support of the borough and that the borough was not really giving anything away as they had never received anything and they could not give something they had never received. Seven acres of the ground belonged to the association and four acres they leased from the borough for which rent was paid. The association did a good deal of work in advertising the district and the only reason they had not done more was lack of funds. He felt that if they were called upon to pay the rates as struek it would, be a real hardship. In addition to this, the fact that it had allowed the public to have twenty days during the year for sports or whatever public purpose they might require, had meant that the association had to remit some of the annual rental. Mr. Jephson, in supporting Mr. Black, deelared that the association had "been up against it" this year and asked the council to follow the precedent of previous councils and remit the rates. Mr. Clark pointed out that the association got no benefit from the show as any profits made were used to mak© future shows more attractive thus assisting the borough by attracting the public. Removal of Drill Hall The Mayor then advised the -deputation that the matter could not be

J^iamrrrrr— r — — - ~ ^ — ■ imiwirMirTT*i — maunu iirnrj , j . I dealt With at the present juncture owing to the motion of Cr. Budd, but would be discussed at the next meeting of the council. Cr. Tabb asked the deputation if there was any truth in the rumour that if the council did not agree to the request of the association, the removal* of the -drill hall would he left in the hands of the council without any measure of assistance from the association. To this Mr. Black replied that the matter had never been the subject of discussion by his committee, since the original conference with Major Bell. Cr. Hitehens: Would your funds be so depleted by the- collection that you would be unable to assist with the removal of the drill hall? In reply Mr. Black stated that at the present time the association shows were run at a loss and that members frequently had to augment the funds from their own pockets. Cr. Short pointed out that when the original application came before the council every member was in sympathy with the idea of the remission of rates, but owing to the low state of the borough finances it was felt that it was neeessary to collect them. This concluded the discussion and the matter now rests until brought before the next meeting of the council.