Rates

Press, 3 December 1982, Page 12

Rates

Sir,—“The Press” headline (November 30), “Bill could mean rates reductions,” is misleading when submissions by the local body associations indicate that the owners of lower valued properties will have to pay more. There is public dissatisfaction with the rating system. However, tampering with it just to shift part of the burden from one section of the community to another is likely to divide our community even further. Almost everybody in the community benefits from local body services whether property owners or not. In my opinion the entire rating system should be scrapped and

replaced with an allocation to local government of P.A.Y.E. and income tax by simple book transfer from the Consolidated Fund. It would be an effective citizens’ tax with minimal administration. People on limited incomes would automatically pay less through P.A.Y.E., and would not have to apply separately for rate relief. Cost savings throughout New Zealand could be about $12,000,000 a year at present day costs.— Yours, etc., W. T, RICE. December 1, 1982.