URBAN FARM LANDS RATING BILL.

Shannon News, 22 October 1929, Page 3

URBAN FARM LANDS RATING BILL.

CUMBERSOME CLASSIFICATION MACHINERY.

At the request of the Shannon Borough Council, Mr J. Lhiklater, M.P., forwarded a copy of the Urban Farm Lands Eating Bill stating -that he would be glad to know the opinion of the Council on the Bill and that he would do what is possible to impress the Minister with the points of view forwarded. ... The following is a copy of the UUi, which the Town Clerk placed before the Finance Committee at their meeting on Friday last, who after consideration decided not to be represented at the meeting of the Local Bills Committee which met on Tuesday to hear evidence, as Palmerston North and Feilding were to be represented an. they considered the matter could be safely left in their hands. ' The Farm Lauds Eating till, i s an Act to make provision for the relief of occupiers of urban farm lands by means of differential rates levied on basis of classification. "Urban Farm Lands" are defined as follows: —

"Urban Farm Lands" means lands that are principally used for agricultural, horticultural or pastoral purposes or for the keeping of bees, or of poultry or other live stock and that being situated either within or without a borough are for the time being subject to airy general, special, or separate rates made and levied by a borough council." For the purpose of affording relief to occupiers of urban farm lands from unduly burdensome rates all property in a borough is to be classified on a petition of any one or more occupiers of urban farm lands, on the grounds that undue proportion of the rates levied, or proposed to be levied by the Council is or will be levied with respect to urban farm lands. If it appears to the Governor-Gener-al that undue hardship exists or is likely to arise, he may appoint a commission, to enquire into the petition. If the Commission after enquiry thinks that ■ relief be afforded it shall if so directed by warrant of the GovernorGeneral, proceed to make a classification of all rateable property in the Borough. This classification is to be a classification into three classes as follows: Class I.—Urban farm lands that have no prospective or potential value for building purposes. Class 2. —Urban farm lands that have a prospective or potential value for building purposes not including in the case of land that has 1 been subdivided, any allotment thereof that in the opinion of the commission is intended for. building purposes and not including any land which though not subdivided for building purposes would in the opinion of the commission have an immediate value for such purposes if made available therefor.

Class , 3. —All other rateable proper ty. ' • -.

'Farm lands shall be deemed to have no prospective or potential value for building purposes if, in the opinion of the commission they are not likely to be required for building purposes within a period of ten years. When the Commission completes its provisional classification it shall prescribe a provisional scale o-f rates on a percentage basis for application to the various classes. The maximum must be levied in respect to land in Class 3.

11l respect of land in Class 1, the values must be reduced and in respect of land comprised in Class 2 the values shall be based on percentages and shall apply to all rates levied by the borough. The Commission reports to the Minister and deposits a copy of the provisional classification and scale of rates in the borough council office. The Borough Council advertises tho classification and the scale of_ rates and the right of persons to object. The classification i 3 open for inspection for 21 days. Objections may be lodged within/. 21 days or within such extended period, as the commission allows, by any person having interestin rateable land affected and who is aggrieved by the classification on any of the following grounds: — (a) That rateable property has not been classified. ■ *. (b) Tha;t rateable property has !not been properly classified. (c) That the provisional scale of rates will be inequitable. .. The Council or any authorised member or officer of the Council may similarly object. _ j Objections have to be lodged with the clerk of the Magistrate's Court who forward same to the commission to deal with. ■Sections 8,9, 10, and 11.—The Commissioners deal with objections and their decisions are final. The confirmed classification is forwarded to the Borough Council which must advertise it. The confirmed classification comes into force on Ist April following the completion of the classification unless the classification .is completed in April or May when the classification relates back to the preceding Ist April. The Town Clerk pointed out that classification was cumbersome. He said he knew from experience what expense and trouble it involved. He thought some simpler machine! y should be framed to. deal -with the question. After a shoit discussion in which Councillors expressed the same opinion as the Town Clerk, on the motion of Cr. Thwaites, seconded by Cr. Hook, the following resolution was carried: "That thifl Council is Of the opinion that the Act is too cumbersome and that some simpler method should be adopted. It also appears to this 1 Council that it would be unduly expensive

to t local bodies and that a copy of this - resolution be forwarded to Mr J. L'ank- - later, M.P.