RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 211, 5 September 1900, Page 3

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

At a meeting of the Devonport Borough Council last evening His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. C .Macky) moved a! resolution to the effect that the Borough adopt the principle of rating on unimproved land values, and that a committee be set up to take the necessary steps in connection with the carrying into effect of the principle. Mr. Macky, in the course of his remarks, instanced the case of Palmerston North, where the effect of the adoption of this system of rating had been to greatly improve the township. He quoted figures to show the fairness of the system of rating be advocated. For instance, he said there was a vacant allotment in Victoria Road, and alongside was a similar-sized allotment, on which the owner had spent perhaps £ 500 to £ GOO in improvements! The owner of the vacant allotment, although enj.bying equal privileges as to footway; etc., with others, only paid £3 10/ a year in rates, while the man alongside, who had improved the Borough to the extent of some £500, paid £10 10/ a year in rates. A rate of 3Jd in the £ on the unimproved value in the land in the Borough would raise the revenue now received. Mr Macky went on to explain that this proposal to adopt the system of rating on unimproved values was so important that he thought it was only right that the Council should go into it. Fifteen per cent, of the persons on the roll could demand a poll on the question, and at such poll it only requh-ed a bare majority to carry the proposal. Mr E. W. Alison criticised Mr Maeky's arguments, which he characterised as those of a Debating Society. At any rate, Mr Macky should not spring such a proposal as this on them in this way, at the end of a meeting, and as it was now 10 o'clock 'they could not discuss it any further. He objected to the discussion being continued that evening. The Council then rose, Mr Macky saying that he intended calling a special meeting to discuss the question.