GOLF CLUB'S VIEWPOINT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 216, 12 September 1930, Page 5

GOLF CLUB'S VIEWPOINT.

BOROUGH REVALUATION NEEDED.

"CLUB BENEFITS OTAHUHU."

An official of the Auckland Golf Club, commenting on the above recommendation, cdntended that the additional revenue which the borough requires could be obtained without recourse to ratepayers owning small houses if the L borough were revalued and rates paid by property owners in the main street of Otahuhu on the present-day values of such properties. In support of his contention that the main street properties are undervalued, he cited the following specific instances: —One section with a frontage of GGft to Great South Road is rated on unimproved value at £535, but was actually sold in 1929 for or £26 10/ per foot. The adjoining section of 33ft frontage is rated on an unimproved value of £190, equivalent to £5 15/ per foot. A third property of GGft frontage, rated at £1485 unimproved value, was sold to the pre-, sent occupief for £4500. This represents a value of £68 6/ per foot. Another I property with 27ft frontage, rated on an unimproved value of £475, was sold for £2380, or £88 per foot. These instances, taken at random, show that values have increased from £20 to £60 per foot according to locality, and that ratepayers with property in the main street of the borough escape paying their just contribution to the, funds of the council. Effect of Revaluation. "If the above increase in specific instances is a true indication of a similar increase throughout the length of the shopping area of Otahuhu, it would appear that a revaluation of the borough would increase the value for rating purposes in the main street alone to the extent of £100,000, which, if done, would give an extra £5000 in rates and enable the council to reduce the rates payable by the majority of ratepayers. Though market values of the main street have increased since the last valuation in 1926, areas similar to that utilised by the golf club have decreased. As proof of that reference need only be made to the 39 acres recently acquired by the club. The unimproved value according to the last valuation is £3930, but in 1928 it was purchased by the club for £2350. "As to the amount paid in rates by the golf club, since 1918, the rates have risen from £158 to £528, and in addition since 1923 the club has paid £372 in water rates, an average of £62 per annum. This year it is expected this figure will be doubled. In return for this the club receives absolutely nothing from the council in the shape of drainage, sanitation or road repairs, which amenities of life are enjoyed by other ratepayers in the borough. Club's Employees. • "Not only in the payment of rates is the golf club o| material benefit to the. Otahuhu Borough, but the club has nine permanent male employees, exclusive of the. professional or house steward, the former of whom employs one apprentice and the latter a staff of one man and four girls and his family. All these employees live in Otahuhu and it might be inferred they spend the greater portion of their wages in the town. In addition the club employs some 60 to SO boys as caddies whose remuneration averages 7/ per caddy per weeic. All material and stores required by the club and steward are when procurable purchased locally and approximately ; £1400 a year is expended in the borough. "This 'to some extent contradicts Mr. Hall's reports statement that as the . borough mostly comprised working class people they were penalised beca,use the ' golf course was in the borough. The club contends that it is of material bene- j * fit to Otahuhu. i !

Sale of Land Denied. "With, regard to the reported sale of part of the property for £200 an acre, this is denied by the club, which has sold no portion of its land since 1917. Mr. W. J. Jordan's reported statement that small fruitgrowers have had to pay as much as £8 a year in rates infers that this condition has been brought about through the Auckland Golf Club having its course within the borough boundary. This ii rdly correct, as a similar state of affairs lias been found to exist wherever rates are levied on unimproved values."