GALATEA ESTATE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 53, 23 August 1939, Page 5

GALATEA ESTATE

NO further rate payment Several matters connected with the Galatea estate were before the Whokatane County Council at its meeting on Tuesday. The Valuation Department wrote advising that the itinerary of the Assessment Court to deal with the department's application for revaluation had not been finalised through .difficulty in obtaining a president, and thus it may not be possible to give tlic council a month's notice of the sitting. Mr Alex C. Sutherland regretted that he was unable to undertake the valuation of the estate as the council desired. The Minister of Lands said that for 1937-38 and 1935-39 the sum of £1877 6s 6d was paid on account of general and special rates. He noted the request for an, additional payment, but said that unfortunately the position of the profit and loss -account of the estate would not allow of any further grant being made in lieu of general rates for 193<S--^O. The Crown was not liable for rates as such, and grants could only be made Avhen the financial position of the property showed 'a surplus. It was decidcd to advise the Farmers' Union of th e Minister's reply. The chairman said that when he was in Wellington he saw the Minister Avho said he could not see any hopc of a further contribution bocause of the position of the estate's finances. The position was far from satisfactory. The council would not get very far with its business if every ratepayer said his working expenses were too high, and that he could not pay Jils rates.