EMPTY SHOPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 239, 9 October 1935, Page 9

EMPTY SHOPS.

RATING EXEMPTION.

LEGISLATION PROPOSED.

EXTENSION OF PRESENT ACT.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WE LLINGTO>T, Tuesday.

The Rating Amendment Bill, notice of tlie introduction of which was given in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr. W. P. Endean (Government, Parnell), seeks to amend the principal Act by permitting shops and offices which have been unoccupied for six months or more to be exempted from the payment of half the rates due for the year, in the same way that dwelling houses are exempted.

In conversation with your representative Mr. Endean said tliat decisions of the Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal two or three years ago had laid it down that that exemption for half the rates in respect to properties unoccupied for six months or more only applied to dwelling houses and not to shops and offices. Historical research into the legislation had proved, however, that the Rating Act when passed did not contemplate such restriction.

"There is no logical reason," said Mr. Endean, "why in these hard times the owner of a dwelling house should obtain relief from rates while the owner of a shop or office has to pay whether he premises are let or not."