VALUATIONS AND RATES.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20829, 12 April 1933, Page 12

VALUATIONS AND RATES.

DISCUSSION BY SPREYDON BURGESSES. The increase in rates over the last few years and the question of a general instead of an individual revaluation of property were discussed at a meeting of the Spreydon Burgesses' Association last evening. Mr Hennessy said that the position was becoming desperate. Many ratepayers had not the money to pay their rates and he thought that something should be done in the matter. Mr L. Hollings stated that ratepayers could have their property revalued by paying a fee commensurate with the value of the property, and if then the ratepayer was still dissatisfied he could object and have the matter thrashed out in the Assessment Court. Mr A. T. Smith said the increase in rates over the past years was due to several things. The Civic Theatre that had been erected for the working man, had become a white elephant. It had been proved in England that the horse was better for council work than the car up to a radious of three miles, yet the council used cars to collect the rubbish. He doubted if Spreydon had gained very much by joining up with greater Christchurch, Mr Hennessy said that the city council compared more than favourably with the borough councils of Riccarton and New Brighton. He moved that a letter be written to the council stating that as there had been instances in the district of revaluation resulting in a 25 per cent, decrease in rates, a general revaluation at a moderate fee would be better than individual revaluation. Mr Smith said that already the matter had the council's support. The motion was carried.