AMENDMENT WANTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1049, 13 August 1930, Page 9

AMENDMENT WANTED

BLOW AT UNIMPROVED VALUES RATING IN RATEPAYERS’ INTERESTS Amendment of the Rating Act. 1925. to protect the rights of local bodies operating on the unimproved value system. was urged at a meeting of the Mount Albert Borough Council last* evening. The council passed a resolution requesting the executive of the Municipal Association to ask the Minister of Internal Affairs for immediate remedial legislation, consequent upon the judgment delivered on August 8. in the case of the Nortlicote Borough Council versus Buchanan, which stated that section 69 of the Rating Act. 1925, was not applicable in a district where the system of rating on unimproved values existed. The local M.P.’s are to be asked to further any such legislation. The Mayor, Mr. L. E. Rhodes. 1 stressed the seriousness of the position for the many local bodies now rating on unimproved values. He described the clause as ridiculous and stated that in one case quo fed on North Shore on owner, by erecting t shack on his property, had halved his rates. Cr. A. A. Buckley considered that j any amendment of the Act in this j direction suggested would inflict an j injustice on owners, who were not re- j eeiving a cent return from their pro- * perties. In his opinion the fact was being overlooked that in boroughs like Mount Albert there were many empty houses. Members were of opinion that rates could not be sacrificed because houses were empty, otherwise the majority’ of the ratepapers would have to bear the burden. The view held was that amendment of the Act would be in the interests of the majority of ratepayers. The Mayor added that under the present law the revenue of the local bodies would be very uncertain, and ho considered that it struck at one of the root principles of rating on unimproved values.