Crown’s Non-Payment Of Rates Criticised

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29766, 8 March 1962, Page 13

Crown’s Non-Payment Of Rates Criticised

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, March 7.

The anomalous position regarding the non-payment of rates on Crown land was attacked by the president of the Municipal Association (Mr A. L. Adamson) in his report to the association’s annual conference today. “The whole position is most unsatisfactory, particularly in the case of dwellings owned by education authorities and Government departments and occupied by staff,” he said. “The position is also anomalous where Government departments take over and occupy buildings from which rates were being received.”

Mr Adamson said the association’s executive was still pursuing the matter with the Government in conjunction with the Counities’ Association.

The organisation of local civil defence schemes still appeared to be lagging and there did not appear to be any great enthusiasm on the part of members to commit their local authorities in connexion with such schemes, he said.

“It does not appear that the local authorities expect a greater lead from the Government than has so far been given.

“Possibly the title of “Civil Defence’ is somewhat of a misnomer from the local authorities’ point of view. “Much better results were achieved during the war years under the emergency precautions schemes than have so far been achieved on the basis of civil defence,” said Mr Adamson. Road Subsidies

While it appeared that there are certain anomalies between the National Roads Boad subsidies which were being paid to counties, as compared with those being paid to municipalities, it was possible that a more accurate assessment of the position would be revealed after another year or two of operations, said Mr Adamson.

“Some members may feel that endeavours should be made to have an early review made of the operations of the act as it now stands, but on the other hand it

might be better to wait until more information is available as a result of another year’s operations,” he said. “It may be that the association should set up a special committee to make a full examination of the position after the accounts for the year ended March 31, 1962, are available. “One significant fact which was revealed as a result of a survey made by our secretary, was that the municipalities are spending a much greater proportion of their own money on reading than is the case with counties,” he said.