EXCESS RATES.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20787, 22 February 1933, Page 3

EXCESS RATES.

RICCARTON BOROUGH AND DRAINAGE BOARD. The long-standiag question of the refund "to the Kiccarton Borough Council of excess rates collected some years ago on behalf of the Christchurch Drainage Board came up again for discussion at the meeting of the board last night. Tho Town Clerk of Kiccarton forwarded a'copy of the .-clause proposed to bo tulded to th© Christchurch District Drainage Bill to authorise the board* to pay the sum of £2i43/7s: lud, excess rates, to the Eiccarton Borough Council "out'of the board's fund or funds into which the' excess ■ collectkm was paid; or to levy and .collect a separate rate to produce the sum mentioned. The writer added that it was understood that the' clause had met wiih the approval of the bdard on a previous occasion. Mr H. Q. Livingstone moved that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee with power to act. He said that he proposed that the committee should have before it the legislation on the question, the resolutions arrived at by the board from time to time on the subject, and the proposed legislation and consider them together. He, thought that the board would be satisfied that in the proposed legislation nothing fresh was being brought forward", and that it was in accordance with the past resolutions, of the board. He knew the feeling of tho board that no' fresh ground should be broken. Mr W. J. Walter seconded the motion. The chairman (Mr J. W. Beanland) said that he understood.that there would be a great deal of opposition in the House when the Bill was brought forward. When it was suggested that the Finance Committee should report on the matter, Mr Livingstone .said that such a course would be acceptable to Kiccarton, as the Bill would be disposed of before the board's next meeting. He understood that Mr J. McCombs, M.P., intended submitting an amendment to provide for the repayment of excess rate to other districts in the board's area in which they had been collected. Mr .T. 8. Barnett said that when the matter was before the Finance Committee previously the committee, had. exceeded the order of reference, which the board had not anticipated. Mr Livingstone: I don't lihe the innuendo! ' Mr Barnett moved an amendment to provide that the committee should report back to the board, which was seconded by Mr-0. S. McCully. • Mr Livingstone:. If we report back nothing will be done. The amendment -was lost and the motion was agreed to. KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL The fortnightly meeting of the Kaiapoi Borough Council was held last night Present were the Mayor (the Rev. W. H. A. VjcK. e ry). Crs. A. E. Brown, C. M. Williams. MRamsay, F. Thorne, H. Rinaldi, J- »• Williams, and R. J. Dunn. • . It was decided that the Mayor and town clerk 'should ■ represent the council *t the conference being called by the Canterbury Progress League to discuss rates on properties mortgaged to the Crown. '.■'■•■-,, «. The secretarv of the Kaiapoi Tennis Club wrote asking if tho council would assist under the No. 5 Scheme in repairing one ol the club's courts which was situated on the borough reserve, Darnley square. It was decided that'the club should be granted the use of the council's tar boiler, and that the application for labour under tho No. 5 Scheme should.bo referred to the Unemployment Committee. Messrs C. M. Brown and Company, Chri.stcllurch, wrote with reference to the Loans Board's refusal to divert the council's un-. oxpended main road paving loan to tar-|eal-ing other roads in the borough, and suggested that the council should again approach the Loans Board for permission to construct a penetrated metal pavement. This would be more costly than tar sealing, but there was no doubt that such a road would be sufficiently permanent to meet the requirements of the Loans Board. Consideration of the letter was held over until definite information was rcecived from the board. • Tho secretary of the Kairakl Lessees' Association wrote with reference to the council's offer to contribute half the cost of a well at Kairaki and advised that the association did not feci disposed to proceed, *s some of the lessees refused to contribute.. The association suggested that- the council should undertake the sinking of, the welt and charge a small'water rate to each section to' pay interest and sinking fund on the' outlay. The matter was deferred for consideration by the incoming council, ■ *