ELECTRIC POWER

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9023, 31 October 1925, Page 3

ELECTRIC POWER

HATING PROBLx^Ub. An Invercargill message says mm Southland Jblectric -Oan. has decided, on tire auvon u m-. solicitors, to apply io tue Court or a uecmruiory upon two questions ao iu imo board's rating powers, uto,.i doubts have exmmu m.r . ...m past. The first question is as (m whether the board hue power to levy a separate rate on proper t.eu vvithin any defined areas u-respec ive of whether tire boar a has made electricity availab.-o for smm properties or not. The other question relates to the levying of a supply rate m reg.vc. of properties for which power is maae available, Hie occupiers being entitled to receive e.ecir.e cumeru equivalent in value to the amount of the rate without any further charge. The point on which tlm opinion of the Court is sought as i to this rate is whether the board, having so far adopted the system of rating on the unimproved value, can now levy the supply rate on the capital value. The board considers it more equitable as between properties with buildings on them and properties without buildings that the supply rate should be levied on the capital value. Whilst the bear'd has been setting about obtaining a ruling on the matters mentioned the ratepayers in the non-reticulated areas have held meetings with a view to deciding upon some definite plan of campaign to ascertain whether , or not the board is justified in ill action in levying tiro same rate o'-er the non-roticulated areas as over those, receiving the current.