AN INCREASED RATE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 97, 10 September 1912, Page 4

AN INCREASED RATE

WAS IT MADE IN" THE DARK ? TWO STATEMENTS. Complaint was made to a News reporter yesterday by a leading business man m the town that the Borough Council had stolen a march on the commercial community by increasing the rate# on stores, warehouses and buildings other than dwelling-houses, by threepence in the £. They also objected, he said, to only one section of the community being taxed with the increase, tilt owners of house property getting off scot free. Last year, he explained, basinesi premises were rated to the extent of 2s 7d in the £ on the rateable value. The charge was made up as follows: (ioneral rate Is Id, special rate Is (Jd. This year, however, it would be see« that an increase had been made, the rate demanded being:—General rate !• Id, special Is 6d, half water-rate o* stores, warehouses and buildings other than dwelling-houses, 3d in the £. This totalled 2s lOd. While admitting that the Council was within its legal right# in making the imposition, was it fair lie asked, that it should differentiate ani make flesh of one and fowl of another? Why had it not come out into the light and taken the ratepayers into its confidence, instead of deciding upon the increase (which in his case amounted t» £4)? THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY. Our reporter brought the complaint under the notice of the town clerk (Mr, F. T. Bellringer), who said that the complainant was laboring under a misapprehension. The Council had no optio* in the matter; it was bound by law t» impose the charge. In support of this he produced a legal opinion receivei from the secretary of the Municipal Association to the effect that it would be illegal to exempt the properties ill question from the half water-rate. As for the charge of seeking to conceal its action, Mr. Bellringer pointed out that the decision to levy the extra rate, which had been made in committee, wa* confirmed in open Council, and subsequently advertised in the Daily News. The matter was mentioned in open Cou»cil by Cr. Morey, who contended that if the Council were determined to collect the extra rate the amount received thereby should T)e spent in kerbing and channelling. He was in a minority, however.