A LABOUR SUGGESTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 77, 1 April 1913, Page 11

A LABOUR SUGGESTION.

SPECIAL RATES ON BIG PROPERTIES. (By Telegraph.—Own Corespondent.; day. Last night, at the meetingof the .City Council, Councillor H. Humer moved: '• That the By-laW3 Commitee be instructed to prepare a report stowing the number of properties on the valuation roll exceeding £1,000 in valie unimproved, and the amount of ra'e in the pound that it would Be necesary to strike on such properties to piovide a special fund for extraordinary, <r what is termed unauthorised expenditvn?, such as the recent vote of £_50 for entertaining the officers and men of 1._1.5. New Zealand. A number of other terns, he said, had been passed during; therear, and he wished to exempt from sucl expenditure- the working man's proprty, as the better class people should be called on to meet it. - > i

Councillor F. Burgbyfie seconded -c motion, Remarking, that it would* least interesting return. .... . 5

Councillor C. D. Morris said that ht considered the return was a very in-j proper one to ask for, nnd the already overburdened staff should not be asked to do extra work merely to suit somebody's electioneering dodge. The motion in fact was meant merely to throw discredit on the heads of those who had given £_50 for the reception of the ibabtles—ip. In any case the information could be obtained by a scrutiny of the valuation list.

The [Mayor asked that the motion should be held over for a few weeks, as the staff was heavily burdened at present.

Councillor Hunter said that he would Ibe content to 'have the report.

Councillor A. S. Taylor pointed out that unauthorised expenditure last year —ad included an item for the entertainment of the Irish delegates, for a wreath and for a contribution to the Municipal Association, while the Auditor-General always claimed that contributions to bands were unauthorised. In any case, the rate, if adopted, would fall harshly upon the man with a big mortgage on s—s property.

Councillor H. D. Acland said that he opposed tire motion because it, proposed to prepare a report on what, if carried out, would be absolutely and wholly illegal, namely, the picking out of certain properties for a special rate.

Councillor Hunter, in reply, said that the vote of £250 was illegal. He admitted that a special rate would require legislative sanction.

On a division the motion was rejected by S to 5.