FARM LAND RATES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 771, 18 September 1929, Page 11

FARM LAND RATES

COMPLAINTS IN MOUNT ROSKILL MEETING OF ROAD BOARD Since the change over to rating oa unimproved values in the Mount Roskill district, the holders of farm lands have been called upon to pay considerably increased rates. This has led to an organised attempt on their part to effect an amalgamation with the City, and thereby come under the capital system of rating. Tho Mount Roskill Road Board, however, does not favour the disintegration of the district, and is endeavouring to bring its semi-rural lands under the provisions of the Urban Farm Lands Rating Bill and so give relief to its farmer ratepayers. At the board's meeting last evening Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P., who has taken up the question in Wellington, forwarded a letter he had received from the Minister of Internal Affairs, in which the Hon. P. A. de la Parrello pointed out that the commission which, last year considered the question of rating of farm lands in boroughs recommended that the proposals of the Bill be extended to boroughs and also to certain town districts, namely, those not forming part of counties. It did not, however, recommend that the scheme be applied to road districts, and the Minister said that while he would be pleased to give careful consideration to the request made by the Mount Roskill Road Board, there were difficulties in the way of going beyond what had been recommended by the commission. In response to a request by the Transport Board to keep the street lights burning until 1 a.m. on bus and tram routes, it was decided to reply that on a former occasion, when a similar request had been made, it was found that this change could not be effected unless the Power Board first made a rearrangement of its circuits. The chairman, Mr. E. F. Jones, reported. that the surface of Dominion Road would shortly be broken up for tramway extension, and he suggested that as the scoria was tho property of the board it should not be carted a wav but placed on the board’s streets in the vicinity. It was agreed to request the Transport Board to arrange for the scoria to be placed on Parau Street. The Department of Health notified that it was making a rearrangement of its staff, and on its suggestion Mr. John Wark was appointed as sanitary inspector in place of Mr. N, F- Furness, who was accorded a vote of thanks for his past services. The district telegraph engineer advised that a public telephone booth would shortly be installed at the corner of Dominion and Mount Smart Roads.