QUESTION OF RATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1921, Page 8

QUESTION OF RATES.

SETTJeERS REQUEST REDUCTION.

THE OKATO RIDING

A deputation of settlers in tile Okato Riding waited on the Taranaki County Council yesterday asking that the council should not strike so high a rate as last year.

Mr. W. J. Gray said they felt that a number of the settlers vve e very much embarrassed on account of the financial stress throughout the country: stock they had ready for sale could not be disposed of, cattle having gone down about a fourth in value. They realised that the council, in the past had endeavored to raise taxation for the purpose of tarsealing the roads, but the New Plymouth people frustrated them in that object. The result was that the work was being done out of loan money and the ratepayers had to find the interest; this ought not to be. j Further, they were promised, when consenting to taxation on. improved value, that they would get relief as regards the amount of rates payable. This relief had not come and he knew one case in which the rates on a property had risen from £6O to £ll5. In the southern end of the district, it was also to be remembered, the settlers had to pay toll on top of the very high rate. There were hundreds who were not dairy farmers and the burden of taxation was becoming unbearable. The taAsealing was going bo cost a 10l of money, and he doubted if it was going to be a success. If the by-roads were to be neglected, in the way they had. until the main roads were finished the council would later probably have to raise another loan for the hack roads. Mr. Gray contended that the roads were not being worn out by the traffic of the producers. The settlers desired some relief until the financial stringency had passed by, and it was suggested that the whole machinery of the council should be overhauled, and if it was possible some reduction in expenditure should be made.

Mr. E. B. Corbett, holder of a discharged soldiers’ section, pointed out that graziers at present were running at a loss owing to the fall in the stock market, and in his locality it had proved rathe;- a severe setback this year. The speaker proceeded to cite instances of various council operations, which he said, dii net seem to indicate good administration.

Mr. W. J. Honeyfield said he thought many of the settlers were led astray in regard to rating on unimproved value. Since its inception the rates had gone up about double. In regard to tarsealing he said he would like to see the roads jn better order before the tar was put on.

In reply, the chairayin of the council, (Mr. J. S. Coftiiett) said he quite believed the settlers felt the levy of the high rate which the council had to make to meet expenditure. In fact they were all very much concerned about the high rate, but the position had been brought about by circumstances over which the council had no control. The increase in the cost of carrying on had been great, ! and as one item he mentioned wages. He said an increase of Is per day to employees meant £5OO to the council. Speaking in regard to the council’s proposal to- secure toll-gates or wheel tax in order to collect revenue, Mr. Connett said that their efforts had not succeeded owing to the opposition, principally of the Borough of New Plymouth, but they were keeping the matter in view. It had been a hardship to the ratepayers in not being able to collect a toll or tax. Why New Plymouth should put up such opposition he failed to see, even now, as the council’s object in carrying the tar-sealing loan was not only to make improved roads, but also to give better access to New Plymouth. Therefore, he thought, the Borough Council ought to have supported the proposal. In regard to rating on unimproved value, Mr. Connett remarked that none of the council expected that under the system they could do with less money; though he had affirmed it was a more equitable system of rating for a man to pay on unimproved value, rather «than to be taxed on his improvements.

present the council found the greatest difficulty in making ends meet and, in fact, were not doing so. At March 31, they were £9 r overdrawn, which mean! a big inroad in their finance for the coming year. He did not see how the council could reduce the rate and pointed out that Okato was not the hardest pressed of the ridings in regard to rate . but, on the contrary, was the lightest rated. Touching on Mr. Gray’s other remarks, he said the riding ought to be thankful t. have a toll-gate, as they we.. so much better off for that reason. The net revenue from it last year was £1278, and if* there was no gate the amount would have to be found by the ratepayers. They .he a -'<»dy been considering the ma 1 let of. expenditure and recognised the need for careful administration and economy.

After -’'ort further discussion the deputation retired, after thanking the council.