A QUESTION OF RATING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 315, 15 June 1915, Page 7

A QUESTION OF RATING.

LAND HELD J3Y (PUBLIC TRUSTEE HELD LIABLE FOE BATES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. TT . iW«llington, Last Night. judgment in the Supreme Court yesterday in the case of the Public Trustee V. the Hutt River Board, an original- 1 tag summons taken out by the Public Trustee for the purpose of determining whether or not he is liable under the Rating Act and the River Hoards Act in respect of land vested in him at the Lower Hutt. The Public Trustee advanced upon mortgage to a lady at the Lower Hutt a considerable euin of money out of the common fund established under the Public Trust Office Act ihc mortgagor made default. The Public Irustee, to protect the security, acquired a title to the mortgaged land by purchase at a sale, and the River Board demanded £2 for general rates for the year ended March 31, 1914, The Public Trustee declined to pay the rates demanded, on the ground that the land in question was the property of the Crown, and tlwt, except as 'between' the local authorities and the occupier, it Was exempt from rating. Hia Honor said it was clear in his opinion that the common fund is not money belonging to the Crown, and he gave judgment that the land in ques- : tiqji is not to be deemed the property of the Crown, and that the Public j lYustoe is liable for the rates levied by the Hoard. When the matter of costs was being considered, Mr. Kelly, for the Public Trustee, suggested that an originating summons should be taken out to settle the point of law. His Honor said he !liad not gone specially into the question, 'but it appeared as if all the offices | of the Public Trustee in the country Were liable to pay rates. Mr. Salmond, ! Solicitor-General, said lie thought an apj peal would be made against the decision, j The question of costs was held over. | =====