Increase In Rates

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32392, 3 September 1970, Page 10

Increase In Rates

Sir, —Despite the recent assurance by the Deputy-Mayor that rates in Christchurch would not rise this year, in the rates demand received by me this week 1 found an increase of nearly 20 per cent. When I complained, 1 was told that I had a large and valuable section. As my section is no larger than it was last year, and I have added no sunken gardens, swimming pools, or tennis courts, I cannot accept this explanation.

Someone who knows about these things, however, tells me that the probable explanation is the acquisition by a private school in the vicinity of a number of private homes, that such schools do not pay full rates; and in such cases, part of the rating burden is shared by adjoining homeowners. Is this so? The school is St Margaret's College. By what percentage did St Margaret’s College rates increase in the recently issued demand as compared with mine?—Yours, etc., OLD HOME OWNER. August 21, 1970.

[Cr H. P. Smith, chairman of the City Council finance committee, replies: “I did not give any assurance that noone would pay more rates this year. I said (and was so reported) that people whose properties had not increased beyond the average would pay the same, that those whose increase was below average would pay less, and those (like your correspondent) whose increase was above average would pay more. The City Council’s rate is the same as last year. ‘Old Home Owner’ says he cannot accept that he has a ‘large and valuable section.’ I invite him to reply giving his old and new values and to tell your readers if he objected to his new increased valuation and whether he will sell for less. The suggestion that ‘Old Home Owner’ is bearing part of the rates on land acquired by St Margaret’s College is, of course, nonsense. I do not think I should publish the rates payable by St Margaret’s College but if ‘Old Home Owner’ calls on the City Treasurer he will give him last year’s and this year’s rates. The rate book is open for public inspection.”]