RATING BILL

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 16

RATING BILL

Few To Be Affected

The proposed pegging of unimproved values at not less than 15 per eent of capital values was the most enlightening step towards rating reform for many years, said Cr. 11. P. Smith, Deputy-Mayor and chairman of the City finance committee, yesterday. He was discussing the Rating Amendment Bill duced to Parliament on Thursday. It would not have a widespread effect in Christchurch, but might be the forerunper of other overdue reforms, Cr. Smith said. The major effect would be on the owner of very valuable buildings where the unimoroved value was no greater than the unimproved value of a much less valuable bui'ding next door. The move was a step towards payments of rates ac"ording to utilisation, he said. There were many engaged in local body work who thought that rating on unimproved value had outlived its usefulness. The city rate collector (Mr A. A. Boot) said the city was divided into 66 districts. All had an unimproved value higher than 15 per cent of the capital value. The average unimproved value was 31.9 per cent of capital. If the bill became law properties with an unimproved value of less than 15 per cent of the capital value would have to pay more in rates, he said, but there were 49.500 rateable assessments in Christchurch and the number of cases affected would be infinitesimal. Mr R. J. Roberts, chairman of the Paoarua County Council, said that the bill did not appear greatly to affect counties. He had asked the county clerk (Mr A. Kelly) to prepare a report, which would be before the council at its meeting on Tuesday night.