NOVEL PROPOSAL

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 74, 20 December 1929, Page 9

NOVEL PROPOSAL

SHOULD HARBOUR BOARDS PAY RATES? DISCUSSION BY CITY COUNCIL The City Solicitor, reporting to the City Council last night in reference to remits to go before the Municipal Conference, said he was of opinion that, in view of the services rendered to harbour boards, — the boards should pay rates. They received all the benefits of street approaches which they used, at great expense to the local bodies, especially in Wellington. They received the benefits of electric light, drainage and water supply and all the city conveniences in Wellington. They paid nothing towards the rates. They were, in most cases, wealthy bodies with large endowments on which they used every possible service to escape taxation. Generally, the position was unsatisfactory. Councillor C. H. Chapman was of opinion that the benefits conferred by the Harbour Board on the city were far greater than the benefits conferred by the city on the board. Without the Harbour Board Wellington would be a very poor place indeed. The Harbour Board made Wellingto npossible. They should be exempted from rates for the reason that they had been exempted so long. The Harbour Board takes care of some of the streets. Councillor Hildreth: Yes; Waterloo Quay I The Mayor said the question was not that the board should be exempted, but why the board should not pay rates. '» Councillor G. Mitchell said that both bodies had a necessary duty to perform, and the board’s aim was to make Wellington a free port ,in order that it would make Wellington a better and greater business centre. If rates were imposed the board would simply have to pass them on to others. It was a public duty in a very efficiency way. On the voices it was decided that the remit should go forward to the Municipal Conference.