Opotiki News

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 464, 23 February 1933, Page 6

Opotiki News

Our District Representative)

RATE REBATE REQUEST FROM OPOTIKI INSTITUTE MET BY COUNCIL. DEPUTATION RECEIVED.

(From

At a recent meeting of the Opotiki Borough Council a request for a rebate of rates was received from the committee of the Mechanics' Institute The request was supported by a letter in which the committee set out the arguments in favour of its suggestion. On Tuesday night, a deputation from the Institute consisting of Messrs. E. Arrowsmith and E. Chapman waited on the council to discuss the matter further. The letter forwarded by the Institute ran as f ollows: — Gentlemen, — I am instructed by the Trustees of this institute to request you to re-consider your decision with respect to the Institutes application for a rebate of rates and to emphasise the following points: (1) The work of the Institute is carried on solely foi; the benefit of tho public of Opotiki, the Trustees giving their time and energies gratuitously. (2) The sole sources of ineome of the institute are subscriptions and rents. (3) The trustees are Bound to enaeavour to provide a fund for rebuilding in case of fire as the insurance obtainable is not sufficient to replace the building and books in case of total loss by fire. This replacement fund has now £400 invested in Government Inscribed Stock. (4) The trustees, as owners, have to pay land tax on their interest in the unimproved value of their leased sections, the tenants paying now, as heretofore, only on their respective interests in such unimproved value. (5) Last year, 1932 rates, taxes, and insurance absorbed 42 per cent. of the total income of the Institute. (6) In 1929 the Institute paid only ! £9/13/9 for rates, taxes and insurance, and expended £157/8/1 in the purchase of books and periodicals whereas last year, 1932 these items amounted to £90/7/0 leaving only £42 for the purchase of books and periodicals. Any concession you may grant will enable the Trustees to cater more adequately for the reading public. General Discussion. In answer to Cr. Budd Mr. Arrowsmith said that the institute had only been called on to pay land tax for the past three years and further that it was two years since the Institute had been able to put any money to the reserve fund. Cr. Maine suggested that as the qu'estion of remission of rates to the A. and P. Association and the Mechanics Institute and also the painting of the wharf sheds had been postponed until the Februray meeting, the council should consider them all at once. Cr. Hitchins e'ontended that the remission of the rates and the painting of wharf sheds were totally different items. Cr. Short suggested that the matter be dealt with at once and that if it were possible a remission should be made. He then moved that half the rates should be remitted in each case. The motion was carried. Mr. Arrowsmith thanked the council on behalf of the Institute for the eonsideration shown them and the deputation withdrew.