COUNTY REBATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 161, 9 July 1932, Page 10

COUNTY REBATE.

REDUCTION BY GOVERNMENT. STRONG NORTHERN PROTEST. "AN ELECTIONEERING MOVE." (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. "It eeems that the rebate was just an electioneering move. I can't express myself as I would wish to without using words which are not permitted at tliia table," said the chairman of the VVhangarei County Council, Mr. Luke Webb, when a remit to the executive of the New Zealand Counties' Association was under discussion yesterday. The remit asked the executive to take eome action to prevent the 12$ per cent rebate on rates under Section 45 of the Finance Act, 1932, being deducted from the annual subsidy on 1931-32 general rates collected. Mr. Webb said that if the rebate was to be taken into account when assessing the annual subsidy to the County Council the value of assistance would be materially lessened. "The rebate was made too late last year for ratepayers to benefit immediately," Mr. Webb continued, "but they would have profited by it this year. In fact the 2J per cent which we retained helped in making a reduction in rates. Now we have cut our rates so much that wo are in danger of receiving a comparatively small subsidy. "This motion of the Government is to be deplored," he said. "I never dreamt they would do such a thing. They take away the assistance given last year just when it would be most felt. It is difficult to believe that the men we sent to Parliament would do such a contradictory tiling unless the rebate was purely a political move, designed to assist their own interests at the time." The remit was approved.