LOCAL BODY RATING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 93, 30 January 1934, Page 6

LOCAL BODY RATING

REFERENCE TO COMMISSION. PUBLIC WORKS BETTERMENT. A CHRISTCHURCH RECOMMENDATION. (Speciai to the M Guardian.") . . CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Tho recommendation that the Municipal Association of New' Zealand should request the Government to submit the whole question of local body rating for consideration by the local body commission which it is proposed to set up—a recommendation incorporated in the finance committee's report to the Christchurch City Council last night—was adopted as the council's reply to the report of a special committee of the association set up to investigate local taxation. It was felt that certain anomalies occurred under any of the present systems, and that a good purpose would undoubtedly be served by a careful inquiry into the general question of rating. • The sub-committee of the Municipal Association had recommended that hospital and charitable aid charges should bo transferred" - from tho local authorities and made a charge on the general Government revenue. In respect of municipal taxation, it was stated that the system of rating on annual value was to be preferred, provided that it was accompanied by surtax on property not adequately used by tho owner. Where the rating was on unimproved value the council concerned should nevertheless levy on the annual value water rates, drainage rates, hospital and charitable aid rates, and special rates on loans for water or drainage. Adequate and efficient provision should be made for the application of the principle of betterment in respect of municipal public works. The executive had also asked the Government to make the question of rating an order of reference for the local body commission which it proposed to set up, with a view ot evolving a system of rating equitable to all classes of ratepayers. After reviewing the clauses of the report the finance committee had decided to recommend the Municipal Association to refer the whole question of local body taxation to the proposed commission.