HUTT COUNTY RATES.

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 18, 21 July 1934, Page 6

HUTT COUNTY RATES.

75 PER CENT. BASIS

A SLIGHT REDUCTION

PROPOSED EXEMPTIONS ,

At yesterday's meeting of the Hutt County Council 'it was decided to strike rates on only 75 per cent, of the capital value of properties in tho county. In no case did tho council increase the goneral rates for tho current year in any riding. Taken over tho whole county, this year's rates are £237 less than last year's. The total general rates for 1933-34 were £10,339, and forthis year they aro £10,102. "A SLIGHT EEDUCTION." "The rates this year are being levied on 75 per cent, of valuations," said the chairman (Mr. p. E. Hoggavd). "Consequently ratepayers in the main will not bo called upon to pay any more than last year. There is in effoet a slight reduction in the general rate taking the county as a whole. Tho reason for -the' decision of the council to_rato oa 75 per-cent, of the valuation is that some ratepayers have applied for special valuations and nad their valuations reduced. The object is to do justice to other ratepayers who have not applied for special valuations and received reductions."

It "was explained that ratepayers in tho Taupo Hiding would>not be called upon to pay any. nioro on account of tho intorost and sinking fund of tho new Pareinata Bridge. j EATING- EXEMPTIONS. j Alterations to the rating exemptions operating in the county were -embodied iin a draft bill considered by the council. v The draft of the proposed Act. to be called "The- Hutt County Rating Act, 1934," stated that, by reason of I its propinquity to the city of Wellington and- its suburbs, the Hutt: County | suffered to an';, extraordinary extent from rating exemptions in respect of | schools, waterworks, and other reserves and recreation areas owned by other local authorities, and, by reason of such rating exemptions, the ratepayers of the- Hutt County had imposed upon them an unfair burden which it was expedient to remove. The Bill proposes that no rating exemption shall apply to any land with: in the county escopt land vested in his jtfajosty tho King and buildings used exclusively for Divino worship and the -sites thereof. For rating purposes within the county all rateable lands, and all1 interests therein, should be valued irrespective. of any restrictions on their, use, and section 52 of tho Valuation of Land Act, 1925, should not .apply. The Valuer-General should from' tiino to timo make such amendments to the1 Valuation Rdlltsupplied to the Hutt County Council for rating purposes as might bo necessary to give effect to tho Act... ■■ ' '• ■. ■, . • ■ . ■ ■ .

The" chairman said that .thero were 280,000 acres in'tho county, and,more than 100,000 a^res wero exempt from rates—some i 0 per cent. Part of tho land which was1 classed as rateable vi'as virtually exempt because the ValuerGoneral had the power to put nominal values on the land. •

After discussion the council approved the draft,. which will ■ now go before Parliament. . - : . ' ' .