VALUATIONS REDUCED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 168, 12 April 1935, Page 12

VALUATIONS REDUCED

Rateability of School Tennis Courts USE BY OUTSIDE CLUBS By Telegraph-—Press Association. Auckland, April 11. The rateability of school tennis courts used by outside clubs under arrangement with the school committees concerned was questioned at a sitting of the City Assessment Court to-day. Mr. Towle appeared on behalf of Ihe Auckland Education Board and three clubs using the tennis courts at schools which had been assessed Cor rating purposes by the city valuer. Mr. Towle said it was the first occasion on which an attempt had been made to collect rates from such clubs. It was an important departure, as it might, concern a number of clubs. He raised three points in objecting to the assessments; that the land was nonrateable: that there was no occupier within the- meaning of the Act, and that even if the clubs were liable to pay rates the assessments had been made on a wrong basis. The position was that the school committees concerned had given three clubs licenses' to use tennis courts. At most the clubs had a bare license to use part of the land during restricted hours, and counsel submitted that the use was not exclusive. He admitted that the court did not have power to rule whether the hind , was non-rateable, but contended that the point was whether the dribs had exclusive possession. “If there is any question of paying rates,” Mr. Towle said, “all these elubs will go out of existence.” He added that the points about the land being noil-rate-able and there being no occupier within the- meaning of the Act could be re; ferred to another court. Mr. McKean said that subject to certain restrictions elubs appeared to have the exclusive right' to the courts within certain hours. Counsel’s statutory authority was correct and the valuations would be reduced to the actual amounts paid by the clubs in rentals.