ST. MARY'S HOMES

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 262, 4 November 1932, Page 3

ST. MARY'S HOMES

REQUEST FOR RATE RELIEF. DIFFICULTIES OF OTAHUHU. A deputation from the St. Mary's Home Trust Board waited on the Otahuhu Borough Council last evening with a request for some relief from rate payments. Mr. G. B. Osmond said they had received a rate demand for £191, representing two years' rates. The delay in payment was not altogether their fault, but largely due to a faulty Government valuation. Owing to financial straits they had been unable to budget for any of this amount. Another reason was that they had to keep children longer owing to their mothers and fathers not being in a position to support them. The board must get additional assistance if they were going to carry on. Every possible economy had been introduced, but the leeway could not be made up.

The. Mayor, Mr. H. T. Clements, in •replying, said: "There is one fact that is generally overlooked and that is that the St. Mary's Home is not a local institution. It is not reasonable to ask a working community like Otahuhu to bear this burden. We appreciate your great work, but you must remember you are occupying four acres of land free of taxation and that the council allows you a generous subsidy on the water used. This is a question for a Government subsidy." Mr. Osmond: We have asked for it, but have made no headway. Mr. Clements: Otahuhu's proportion of inmates is not greater than that of other communities. The city has obligations as well. This borough is carrying greater obligations than any other local body in the vicinity. We arc saddled with a dead rating area. The Government has rating obligations which it will not meet, holding as it docs large areas of land in the borough, and it is costing the council £500 annually to support the Auckland Golf Club. The request was referred to the legal and finance committee for a report.