MOUNT ROSKTLL RATING.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 249, 20 October 1924, Page 13

MOUNT ROSKTLL RATING.

(To the Editor.) Sir. Mr. G. M. Fowlds, in your issue of Monday, the 13th, satirises the idea of rating improvements. Apropos of this subject I would like to relate a conversation I once heard between the mayor of a .suburban borough and a section holder. It ran, approximately, as follows:—Section bolder: "Mr. Mayor, 1 intend building a home on my section in Street, in your borough, which, as you know, is at present not even formed. I shall consequently require the street to be metalled, and proper sidewalks made. Proper sewerage will also be necessary, as well as street lamps." The Mayor: "But, good gracious, the funds of the borough will not permit of such a large expentnture as these works will entail. It will be necessary to raise a loan and to levy a special rate. Look how you will cut up the roads with all your carting. At present your rates are nominal, as your •wants are few. Moreover, we recognise your inability to pay more as you are getting no return from your section. Do you mind paying about six times the amount of rates if we provide you with these necessities?" Section holder: "No, of course I shan't "mind, because the improvements will be worth the extra rates to mc, and I shall be getting a return from my section. Moreover, I think that the rich who can afford fine homes should contribute to the hospitals and charitable aid more than the cottager." The Mayor: "I would like to explain that as we are opposed to householders monopolising land for the mere purpose of growing fruit, flowers, and vegetables, and enjoyiiijg a game of tennis, we have endeavoured to stop that pernicious habit by instituting what is known as the rating on unimproved values, and that means that all the rates are now placed on the land only, so instead of paying, say, £20 on land and improvements, you pay the £20 on the site solely. Of course, you get some benefit from the extra ratee collected from yaoant land owners.' Section holder: "But you said tnat the heavy rates were necessitated by the building of homes. Is it not a bit tough putting these heavy rates on land that has no buildings?" The Mayor remarked that it was a pity that the Turks were making trouble on the Iraq frontier, and reached for his hat.—l am, ftp., JOHN A. BE ALE,