SOLDIERS AND RATES.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 62, 13 March 1919, Page 11

SOLDIERS AND RATES.

A SINGULAR POSITION

Mr. A. Harding brought under the notice of the executive of the New Zealand Fanners' Union yesterday a peculiar position in regard to land purchased by the Government, and subdivided for settlement of returned soldiers. He stated that an area purchased at from 20/ to 00/ per acre was, after subdivision by the. Government and allotted to returned soldiers, valued at £9 per acre. The trouble was that thi> returned men were rated on that valuation while other settlers adjacent still paid on the lower valuation. It was wrong for returned soldiers to have to pay higher rates than qualified settlers, who were adjacent on farms in the same district.

Mr. Ross said it would be quite unfair to rate on a new valuation for one particular block settled by returned soldiers. The matter should be settled by a revaluation. He never understood before that a special valuation for one block wae used for rating purposes.

Mr. O. Mellsop said he knew instances where a special valuation was being used for rating purposes.

Major Lusk said he understood the revaluation for soldier settlers was taken not with the object of rating them thereon. That, he thought, stood till there was a general revaluation. He was sure the Union would protest strongly against soldiers being rated at more than farmers alongside.

Mr. Harding said the question of the soldiers was really urgent.

JVlr. C. C. Munro said he was told by the Public Trust Office that there would be no rate on revaluations of subdivisions, until there had been a general revaluation.

A notion was then adopted, that inquiry be made of county councils and districts regarding the general practice in connection with rating on revalued special areas, also to protest if it was found returned soldiers were rated higher than other settlers.

On the motion of Major Lusk, seconded by Mr. S. C. Jourtneaux, it was agreed to npproach the Valuation Department on this matter with a view to there being no increased rating on subdivided areas for returned soldiers until after the revaluation of the district.