URBAN FARM LANDS RATING BILL.

Shannon News, 1 November 1929, Page 4

URBAN FARM LANDS RATING BILL.

BILL HELD UP.

The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the Urban Farm Lands Rating Bill, recommended to the House of Representatives yesterday that, in view of the numerous objections received from local bodies and of the undertaking by the Municipal Association that the matter of urban farm land rating would be fully considered at its next conference, the Bill be not allowed to proceed. Mr. J. A. Nash (Reform, Palmerston) asked the chairman whether he could

g'ive any indication to the House as to how many local authorities were in favour of the Bill and how many were against it. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. P. A. do la Perrelle) said that the measure was a very important one, but unfortunately complaints had been received from all parts of New Zealand, principally in regard to the system of rating. It was the general desire that the Bill should be gone into

by municipal corporations and others during the recess. He would like to see it become law.. His only hope was that after the matter had been fully investigate! by the parties concerned Parliament would be free to go ahead with the proposals. He was quite satisfied that the Bill was not understood by many corporations, and that a different light would be shed on it when all the evidence was at' their disposal. There was no desire on the part of the Government to shelve the Bill, which was very important and far-reaching.

Mr. A. Harris (Reform, Waitemata) said he thought the committee had come to. a wise decision. The fear of local bodies was that their finances would be sincerely affected if the Pill became law. The whole matter required very careful investigation. Mr. W. H. Field‘(Reform, Otaki) also expressed the opinion that the committee had come to the right decision. Replying, the chairman (Mr. C. A. Wilkinson) said that 120 boroughs and 40 town districts were interested in the Bill. The bulk of the evidence was against the measure. It might be readily admitted that many farms included in boroughs were being rated oppressively, but on the. other hand there were people holding large areas of land in the hope of a rise in value. Any reduction in rates should nQt be made to benefit people of that kind. The committee had no option but to recommend that further consideration be given to the proposals by the parties interested, with a view to promoting legislation later. The report of the committee was tabled.

The committee, which also considered the Otaki Borough Adjustment and Farm Lands Rating Bill, recommended that the Bill be not allowed to proceed. The report was tabled.