RATE EXEMPTION CLAIMED

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21863, 17 August 1936, Page 3

RATE EXEMPTION CLAIMED

LINCOLN COLLEGE SEEKS REFUND OF £797 LIABILITY DENIED BY SPRINGS COUNTY COUNCIL Members present at the monthly meeting of the Springs County Council were Councillors J. S. Simpson (chairman), J. H. Williams, J. Woods, C. H. Watson, J. W. Kime, and P. V., Bsilcy* Consideration was given to a claim made by a firm of solicitors for Canterbury Agricultural College. Lincoln, for refund of rates paid to the council by the board of governors on college property since 1931. It was explained that last October a letter was received by the Valuation Department from the chairman of the college board claiming complete exemption from rates for the college and farm under section 40 of the Finance Act, 1931. In giving the council notice of the application the officer in charge of the department expressed the opinion that since 1931 the whole of the college lands had been made exempt from rates by virtue of the statute, which reads: “No rates shall be levied by any local authority within the meaning of the Rating Act, 1925, on any land held by or on behalf of any constituent college of the University of New Zealand. . . The college asked for a refund of £797 10s lid, made

up as follows: 1931-32, £ 179 Is; 1932-

33, £147 13s 8d; 1933-34, £147 12s 7d; 1934-35, £147 12s 7d; 1935-36, £175 11s Id.

The council decided not to recognise any liability and to inform its solicitors accordingly. The financial statement showed a credit balance of £3 Os 6d. Accounts for payment totalled £Bl2 16s sd. The chairman reported that the council’s weed-cutting plant had been overhauled and a new boat provided, the cost being about £IOO. An increase in the council’s payment for health and sanitary inspectors from £32 11s to £46 4s a year was notified by the Health Department

The Wairewa County Council asked the Springs Council’s co-opera-tion in an endeavour to have the Christchurch-Akaroa road declared a State highway, in view of the large proportion of foreign traffic using it.

The council did not think there was any prospect of the application being successful at present. Eight ratepayers petitioned the council to improve road drainage affecting their properties, and Messrs J, Pearson and S. Keast waited upon the council to explain the position. The chairman, Cr. Bailey, and the overseer were asked to inspect the drains and were given power to act. Speaking of the tar sealing of five miles of the Sockbum-Southbridge highway in Springs, from the Paparua boundary, the chairman reported that arrangements had been mads with the Canterbury representative on the Highways Board about finance. Plans of reconstruction could now be prepared and should be ready, so that tenders could be called before Christmas, with a view to getting the sealing done next summer.

It was decided to engage an engineer to prepare plans in time for next meeting, and the overseer was instructed to renew pipes and culverts on the road where necessary, KOWAI COUNTY COUNCIL GOVERNMENT AID SOUGHT FOR RIVER PROTECTION The monthly meeting of the Kowai County Council was attended by Crs. R. Peach (chairman), H. May, J. B, Bowker, A. E. Payne, D. McLean, M. B. Forrester, and J. Ashworth. It was decided to inform Mr P. R. Climie that work could be found under scheme No. 5. in clearing gorse and willow out of the course of the Kowai river bed. A general rate of three-farthings in the pound was struck on all rateable property within the county, such rate to include the North Canterbury hospital levy of £1528 16s 3d. It was decided to apply to the Minister for Finance for permission to use the sum of £HO 13s 7d. the surplus of the special 12i per cent, subsidy on 1931-32 rates, for repairing flood damage. The council decided to apply for . a Government grant for river protection, where the Kowai river is encroaching on the council plantation at Leithfield. Where notice has been served to clear gorse on ratepayers’ road frontages, it was decided to insist on the notice being complied with. Accounts amounting to £353 14s Id were passed for payment. The credit balance at the bank was £899 8s 9d. PRESENTATION AT KAIAPOI A social evening was held at the Kaiapoi Returned Soldiers’' Association’s Club rocms on Saturday, when those present said good-bye to Mr D. G. Wilson, who will shortly leave the district. A presentation of a pipe and pouch was made by the president of the association, Mr G. Hirst, who referred to the excellent work done by Mr Wilson as a member of the executive.