RATES AND ESTIMATES

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 168, 12 April 1932, Page 2

RATES AND ESTIMATES

Wellington’s Coining Year PAYERS ON POSITION City rates and the estimates for the coming year in the light of conditions generally was discussed at a meeting of the executive of the Wellington Ratepayers’ Association yesterday. As the result of careful consideration, it was decided to make the following statement from the Ratepayers’ Association :— Interest and Rent. “Tiie association suggests that the City Council would be well advised to defer the finalisation of its estimates for a suflicient time to enable it to thoroughly review the provisions of the Bill now before Parliament dealing with interest and rent reductions. The councillors are in reality trustees of the interests of the citizens, aud as such must be aware of the tremendous struggle everyone is having, particularly property owners and businessmen, to merely make both euds meet, much less to show even the smallest trading profit. Having in view this fact, it is of paramount importance, as was indeed expressed by the City Council in committee, that its expenditure shall be reduced. “lu our opinion there should be a reduction of at least 15 per cent, in the rates. It must be agreed that by virtue of the provisions of the National Expenditure Adjustment Act local bodies will considerably benefit. “The unemployment tax makes provision for the Government to take a burden from the city. It is taking the burden of charitable aid from the Hospital Board, which relief will be to the extent of many thousands, and the Unemployed Relief Wages Act will give considerable relief to the finances of the city in both capital and interest. “The increase in the wages tax will considerably affect the small ratepayer, who is in the majority in this city, and. in conjunction with other considerations, this is a further reason why the rates should be reduced. At this meeting we have had many illustrations of tlie effect of the present slump on the rental values of properties, and the instances given showed that in no case had reductions of rent been less than 25 per cent., while reductions rose iu extent from that onwards. Auckland Saving Quoted.

"We note that in Auckland that the mayor (Mr. G. W. Hutchison) stated that in the financial year just closed, through the salary cut of ID per cent., and in a number of other ways, tlie Auckland City Council had made savings amounting to £31,000, and had reduced the general rate by 2jd., and had also been able to devote some of the proceeds of the wages cut to providing additional relief work under the No. 5 scheme.

“The Wellington city estimates should not be finalised until the council and the public have had the fullest opportunity of considering the conditions, and the savings that the Act now before Parliament may effect to the city. Considerable comment was made last year on the haste with which the council put through its estimates, and we hope that this year the necessity for curtailment of expenditure will I ? fully weighed in the light of all the circumstances, before the amount to be expended is determined upon. "Members expressed great approval of the announced determination of the Mayor and councillors of Wellington to reduce the estimates by 20 per cent., but in view of the general conditions as enumerated above, it is considered that a greater reduction will bo necessary if the rates are to be brought down to the limit the position requires.”