Supplement To Rates Wanted

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32301, 20 May 1970, Page 6

Supplement To Rates Wanted

The Kaiapoi Borough i Council will press the Gov- ( eminent to recognise the need for some sort of revenue t for local government, other 1 than rates, for the purpose s of financing cultural and i recreational amenities. (

Speaking to his motion at n the monthly meeting last h evening Cr C. T. Williams said: ci

“In Kaiapoi the council has already assisted some community needs and made grants to th? Community Centre and new swimming pool.. It supports provincial projects—being rated for the Canterbury Museum—is making a small grant to the Christchurch Town Hall, and will probably make a contribution to the Canterbury Provincial Council Chambers. “In our own town what we are spending is not anything like what could be spent. It is unfair to expect all these services to be met from rates.” i Cr R. L. Wylie said: I “These amenities are desired’ by all our citizens and it seems to be reasonable that all citizens should finance them. The only way appears to be a type of tax rebate to local authorities. We should add our voice to the plea for aid.” This Mayor (Mr H. 0. Hills) I favoured the motion, but j pointed out that a lot of

money was raised through Government departments. "In the new estimates the council will make a contribution of $lO,OOO to the new swimming pool. The same amount will come from the Government, but some other

means would also be a great teip.” Cr F. Clemett said that a titizens’ tax was used quite

successfully in some countries and this might well be one of the solutions the Government would arrive at. The council will write to the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) and Associate Minister (Mr Pickering) who is also the member for Rangiora.