NO RENTS-NO RATES

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 23, 28 January 1939, Page 13

NO RENTS-NO RATES

STATE WILL NOT PAY.

MGRRINSVILLE LOSES £45.

BOROUGH COUNCIL'S CONCERN

(From Our Own Correspondent.) MORRINSVILLE, Friday. Faced with a loss of £45 in general rates on Sections purchased for the State housing ache me but not yet occupied by tenanted dwellings, the Morrinsville Borough Council is viewing with mixed feelings the progress of the State Housing Department's effort* to overcome the shortage of houses in Morrinsville.

More than a year ago the State pur chased numerous building sites ir

Morrinsville, but tlie erection of houses has progressed slowly. When presented with a demand for £73 3/8 rates, on the State sections, the State Advances Corporation paid over £28 3/4, being only the general rates. The balance of £4o special rates is now- in dispute.

"Special rate* only will be paid while the land remain* vacant," stated the manager of the State Advances Department in a letter read at last evening'* meeting of the council. "Full rafes will be paid on newly-erected State houses for the full period of which such houses are occupied by tenants. It is probable that a number of new State houses will be erected in Morrinsville before the end of the financial year."

The Mayor, Mr. W. Hetlierington, commented that Morrinsville had lost a lot of ratee through these State houses not being let as soon as they were completed. He was of the opinion that ten houses in George Street, which were let this week, could Tiave seen let two months ago. No private institution would keep houses vacant when they were to all intents and purposes completed. In the meantime the Borough Council was i obliged to forego rates because of delays on the part of the Housing Department.