COUNTY RATING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 50, 8 June 1910, Page 2

COUNTY RATING.

PROPOSALS VOU THIS YEAR. The county rate will not be struck as j early this year as last year, for the rolls are not yet to hand from the Vaiuat'xi Department. Last year's levy rather early, the 10 per cent, penary being imposed at the end of December. This year the January r.nli-c cheques will be available before the can he enforced. At Monday's Meeting of tne Taranaki County Council a statement was submitted showing the Cstim.uel amount of income in the respi'-clive lidings for the year ending Ma, eh 01, lull, on the assumption that tin general rate was the same as last year. The figures are:— MOA RIDING. Estimated on general rate of %d in the £:— £ Rates 2476 Licenses 25 Rents 113 Dog tax 100 Subsidy 27G £2990 Less share of administration. v>o £25-i0 WAITARA RIDING. Estimated on a general rate of %d, and the Waitara West Road District and general rate of over the late Egmont Road District:— £ Over whole riding, rates tiSo Additional over Egmont Road District, rates %d 357 Dog tax 65 Subsidy Royalty 6 £IS29 Less share administration 230 £1599 OMATA RIDING. Value, £131,382. Estimated on a general rate of %d to be expended on main roads, and %A to be expended on the district roads:— £ Rates .. 684 Dog tax 18 Licenses 25 Subsidy 250 £977 Less share administration. 123 £854 OKATO RIDING. Value, £303,995. Estimated on general rate of %d: — £ Rates 905 Dog tax 25 Licenses 30 iSubsidy 77 £1037 ■ Less share administration. 198 £839 HURWORTH RIDING. Estimated l on a general rate of %& in the £:— £ Rates . 550 Subsidy . 250 Dog tax 20 Licenses 5 £825 Less share administration. 150 £675 No objection was taken to the rating proposals until the Hurworth riding icame under discussion, when, as reported briefly in yesterday's issue, a determined effort was made by the chairman and one or two councillors *o .iicr^as' 1 the rate from a lralf-pennv to thrce-farthings in the pound. The chairman said he had intended that the clerk should have worked out the estimated amount of income in the riding on a %d rate, which he considered should be levied this year if the bye roads were to receive any attention. Councillor Hopson said : that the rate should 'be %d. Other parts of the county had a, %d rate, and why should these people be left ofMvith a %d rate? Councillor Carter, representative bf the riding, strongly opposed any increased rates. He pointed out that last year, with a Vs-d rate, they had finished up with a credit of £llß, after providing for a lot of extraordinary expenditure, and yet it was suggested their rate be increased for next year. He could not understand their oo.ject at all. The chairman and some ratepayers in this riding had come to him and said, "Don't let us have any more of this half-penny rate," and asked for a threefarthings rate instead, so that the Council could give more attention to Ihe bye roads. Councillor Carter said that because the riding had lived within its income it appeared as though the members wished to penalise the ratepayers. The chairman was emphasising the fact that people had asked for a threefarthings rate instead of a rate. That had not been his experien-e. People had never made such a proposal to him. He pointed out that the specis! rates carried in the riding on the high valuation were a very serious tax on the people. These were apart from the half penny general rate. He moved that the rate'remain at a half-penny as last ytar, and pointed out that this rate vas collected on land valued at £6OO an acie. whereas the l%d rate proposed in some of the ridings" affected land valued at . only £9 to £2O an acre. Besides, the valuation of-the riding was constantly increasing. } Cr. Allanson seconded the motion. Cr. Hopson moved an amendment that it be increased to three-ra .-things. Cr. Andrews seconded. Cr. Hopson considered a Mirae-fa -things rate little enough, considering what the rest of the county had to pay. The Chairmani But that is no argument at all.' His fear was thas dm mg the coming year they would nave applications for work on the bye rr,?ds in the riding, ami no money with which to carry it out. Cr. Carter: You ■ are'defiling with j things that don't exist,-Mr. Chairman. The Chairman: We goner'My find thev come along. M / Cr. Stevens said Cr. Carter was the .only representative of the ridiag on Hie Council, and should know w'iat was necessary. Cr. Carter said there had been no complaints that he knew of. All lequtst.* made to the Council had oean met, will one exception, and that was the worfc asked for by Mr. Thomson a', Westown, In connection with this the foreman had reported that the traffic did not warrant the expenditure. He did not wish ta : coerce the Council in the least, fiul ; would remind the members that it wa< i i in the interests of the Council to lei , the rate in the riding continue at i half-penny. i Cr. Hill: Otherwise you wiil oe mak ; ing New Plymouth bigger thaw • it is. .. ~

Cr. Hopson: Let them make it bigger as soon as they like. I don't cars how soon. Cr. Carter: You can't all's ••■I it. Cr. Hill pointed out that tliougu ."he Hurworth riding was in credit it had to pay its share of interest en the general overdraft of the coun.y. The amendment that the rate be thrtefarthings in the pound was then put to the meeting and lost, a division revealing the voting to be as follows: —Ayis: The Chairman, Crs. Hopson and Andrews. Noes: Crs. Car tor, Allanson, Stevens and Hill. The motion was carried.