A PROPERTY TAX QUESTION.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6369, 17 February 1886, Page 3

A PROPERTY TAX QUESTION.

[BT TaLBOBAPH.]

[iraoK ora cobbbsfondknt.]

WELLINGTON, February 16.

The "Evening Post" to-night makes the following announcement:—"The Propert? Tax Department, we understand, has issued notices to the various Friendly Societies for the purpose of taxing their property, though the bulk of which Iβ invested for sick and charitable purpoeee. The Act «xeinpts property of local bodies, any society registered under the Building Society's Act, 1880, and all property of, «r invested in any body for public and charitable or public educational purposes, but it does not specify benefit societies in j the list of exemptions, and, therefore, the property of these societies is to be taxed. The friendly societies are veryindignant at receiving notice, because the tax falls upon I funds obtained specially for the purposes of relieving distress and destitution, ft is probable that some united action will be taVen in the matter. Now I find on inquiry that this is a mare's nest. The notices issued by the Property Tax Department are simply those required in conneetibn with the Bating Act. valuations are required by law to be furnished of all properties liable to be locally rated, and the Property Tax Department is the instrument by which these valuations are made. All that has been done is to make m valuation of reliable values of the properties, and there is, of course, no intention of levying ft tax upon them. The question of rating reste entirely with local bodies within whose jurisdiction properties are situated."