RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1917, Page 4

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE.

NOT I'AYORKD 1(V F.GMOXT COUNTY COUNCIL. The advisability or otherwise of rating on unimproved value formed Die ■illicit of discussion at the meeting of the Kgmout County Council on Tuesday. The question was introduced hv Cr. Mac Reynolds, who, in accordance with not ice of motion, moved that the Council take steps to introduce rating on unimproved value. Several ratepayers, he said, had asked him to bring the matter forward. He pointed out that before it could come into force it would be necessary that fifteen per cent, of the ratepayers should demand a poll on the (|uestion. The mover bad favored the proposed system for years, as the present svsteni was not an equitable one, though he pointed out in his own c.vo a change would mean that he v.ouj,have to pay lids for each CI of rati" that he was now paying, Under present conditions the man who improved his properly had to pay heavier rates than the man who did not, besides possibly having to pay interest on money borrowed to eU'eel the improvements. Mnrc'•••er, at pre-Vet people had a hazy idea of what were classed as improvements. Cr. W. l!. Wright, in seconding, renin rl. I'd that when tliev sew the low valuation of the Maori land it was time thei rated oil unimproved value. Cr, Mi'Xeill said he would like information from local bodies that had adopted the system. It would certainly get at any absentee land-owners. The chairman considered that the Act allowing rating on unimproved values was passed for the benefit of towns and townships where section- were often held idle by speculators, but he did not think that applied so much to rural lands, whore there was not much held for speculative purpose While there were l'2(i counties ill the Dominion, lie only knew of one that had adopted the system. The tendency of the Government at each valuation was to keep down the valuation for improvements and put up the unimproved value. Making the unimproved value the standard "f ruling would,! l'c ihouaht, help this. IJ'l'is was one reason why they should not adopt it. Kveu in town-dun-, ratine on unimproved valve would do no good unless tiiere was congestion, because if all vacant sections were to be built on it would deteriorate the value ot all sclions. as there would be no demand W'h en tiie population required it, accommodation would be provided. Under the iiosent system of rating those who did 'lot improve did not produce, and «o did not wear out the roads. Moreover,: the y-ame revenue would have to be provided, whether tliev rated on unim-•u-ovcu or capital value. Personally, lie lifid nothinu against the system, but would like more information on it. tkoii'.-i; he Ihouaht it would he n wrong principle in a county like Lgmont. Cr. Dudley did_ not think that the system was -.uita'Ma for county rating, though applicable to towns where there was congestion.

Cr. finrvcy thought that it would reduce the selling value, tliat was the owner's interest. n r. Wright said that rating on unimproved value would mean levelling up. not levelling down. The chairman pointed out the unfairlie's of the system in their county In tiie southern end some land that had never been ploughed was valued at C.> ! >. of which the unimproved value wonhj he whilst in the north em! in ninny eases the unimproved value was von low;,, lie knew of two farms in li's own district, one of which was improved n, much as possible, some of it having; co-t ;C4O per aere to drain, whilst the other was only partially 'improved, yet tho unimproved value was the same. Cr. Mael'eynohls said that argument was in his favor. It; was not right that a man should be taxed on any improvements that were caused through his cap itil! or labor, lie thought that there were very lew parts of the Dominion where tlWe was so much neglected lain] and this system of rating would tend to have improvements otlected. I 'Die motion was lost. j

The public will be afforded a unique opportunity of saving mom>v by visiting till! .Melbourne Company's great stocktaking sale, commencing Friday, ihe liitli Inst. Tlic bargains are of a sensational nature, and comprise only goods of a useful every-dav character. SICK' HEADACHE. This is usually caused by a disorder of the stomach. Take a good dose of Chamberlain's Tablets for the ,;toniacli alright. Sold everywhere. The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Ageiu-v Co., Ltd., ilrav,- attention to the alter,» lion in the dates of the Jlawera sheep t'air and annual ram fair. The sheep fair i» being held in the South lioad saloyards on Thursday, 22iul inst., and the' ram fair at Tattersall's, Hawcril, 011 the day following. Entries fur both fixtures are now being taken. THE FIRST SNUEZK IS THE IJAN'GEI: SIGNAL. Time to take ])i. Sheldon New. Discovery for Coughs and Colds. xJon't neglect a cold; it's serious. New Dia- j covery, Is (Id and 3a. Obtainable every- |