LOCAL BODIES AFFAIR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 59, 9 July 1915, Page 3

LOCAL BODIES AFFAIR.

RATING ON GOVERNMENT LANDS

Per I'kkss (Association

Wellington, July 7

The question whether the Government should pay rates to local .bodies on Crown lands within such local bodies' boundaries was dealt with at the conference of the Wellington suburban borough councils to-day.

.Mr .). W. McEwan, Mayor of iVtone. presided. He considered that the Government should pay rates upon all lands owned by it and coming within the jurisdiction of local bodies with certain exceptions which he enumerated. These included land upon which buildings V.tilised for public purposes were erected, such as drill halls, court-houses, public schools,; etc. He contended also that wheii ( the Government acquired a large block of land for settlement purposes it should recognise that it was enter-] ing into competition with private enterprise, and should pay rates accordingly. Iu Petone the Government owned land valued at somewhere near £II,OOO, and the rates lost by the Hutt River Hoard on this account totalled about £IOOO a year. On a broad principle the Government should place'.itself in the same position as individuals and pay rates. After discussion, if was decided that a deputation should approach the Premier on the subject, and that the Municipal Association be asked to assist. The meeting was also of the opinion that the Government should pay rates upon all lands acquired by it for the purposes of workers' homes, but thafo land occupied for drill halls, post offices, court-houses and schools should be exempted.