LOCAL BODY RATES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 March 1939, Page 5

LOCAL BODY RATES

LIABILITY OF THE CROWN. FULL ACCEPTANCE URGED. (By Telegraph.) (Special to “Times-Age.”) DUNEDIN, This Day. Some observations of interest concerning the liability of the Crown for rates were made by Mr T. Jordan, president of the Municipal Association, in his annual report to the association’s conference today. “On July 21, 1938,” stated Mr Jordan, “a joint deputation from the Counties’ and Municipal associations presented to the Minister again the need for a clear statement upon the Government’s attitude to the numerous remits which have each year been sent by conference urging that the Crown accept full liability for all local body rates on properties, owned and controlled by it for housing, lending and trading purposes, which are not really connected with the Crown’s prerogative. I suggested to the Minister that he might allow some of his officers to confer with us in settling some of the more technical questions which are involved. He declined to do this, but he promised to give our requests early attention, and hoped to answer them before the end of the session. At the end of September, 1938, the Minister telegraphed that he wbuld allow his officers to discuss with us the question of priority for rates associated with drainage connections. We asked that the scope of the discussions be extended to cover all questions relating to the Crown’s liability for’ rates. The Minister replied that this could not be done, as the matter involved primarily considerations of Government policy, which could not be delegated to the officers of his Department. He, however, asked that all remits we wished considered should be resubmitted. This was done, and the Minister hopes to be able to give his answers prior to the opening of conference. As far as houses under the Housing Scheme are concerned, as members are aware, the position has been greatly improved, but is not yet completely satisfactory.”