LOWER RATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 114, 16 May 1922, Page 4

LOWER RATES.

I We arc no subscriber-, to the .ioctrine, | I which liiih ,1 iniifli harm in parts 'of New Zealand, that lite first biuineai ' ,i.| a local l-od\ is to keep tjoivn t iie 'rate-, but »c think reduction of laxa- : lion Bilvli an important matter jest nowthai we draw attention to thci action nf ill. , Mt Kdeu Uoriiugh Cotiuci'l in redue. in..' its rates by t .t. .pence ict the currelit '.car. Il may he said thai, since the valuation-* have in.--va.-e. I. the relief: to the ratepayers i- mure apparent than' real, but local bodies should perlia;«s be jiul.'jed in these mat tern with an eye that note* temptation-, resisted. It i- a temptation to accept im-rea'es in valua-I , tioiix il, a windfall, and tn keep rates] ' at, they arc. The action of lh«- Mi. Eden j I Council i. t>peciaHy interesti'ii; in tli.it |ci-My local Ihklv i- pspprieneir.g n similar i , increase in the nouree of it* revenue. a"d J pcriiapH members of . ount ilμ .Io not siitli- j ;.-;.'iit!y -c:iliw that the ilonhln burden' :>i l.i-licr valuatioitei and liL-h rates' ■ i >rra -,..- heavily on the nUopaxer. \\ her- 1 Jeter i«>->-i!>!e. higlier valu/itioiu* should; lbe n-cd In relicie the r:»te... Tlie Mt i Kden Council has tmma>n.d to do this! Ito .i subntantial extent; us a matter of) j met ihe ritliietion of t'.iopeiipp is us i tn<■■.->■ :i-s .'Ad in one area and .'tjd in an- < ot'iicr. It may be pre-*uni"d that su. h a' li-lcp would not have bet-n ponsihle had ! the management of the affatre . not been sound, a point which .= ome ' '. r.it r.i\cr- may re apt t-J overlook. |