NO AMALGAMATION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 68, 13 December 1939, Page 5

NO AMALGAMATION

Kairanga County Riding Accounts DEPUTATIONS HEARD Dominion Special Service PALMERSTON N.. December 12. A proposal by Fitzherbert riding representatives that the riding system of finance should be abolished was rejected today by the Kairanga County Council, which decided to continue on the’ present basis of three separate ridings. Before the decision was made the council heard deputations opposing and supporting the proposed change. Messrs. L. B. Wall, P. G. Million, J. Callesen, J. A. Cheetham and W. E. Thomas, representing Taonui and Manga, one ridings, opposed the change, and Mr. J. Nairn claimed that Fitzherbert riding was being penalized under the present system. After hearing the views of both deputations Cr. 'l'. D. Lynch moved that the riding accounts be abolished and a general system of rating be instituted over the whole council area as from March 31.

Seconding the motion. Cr. J, Batchelar said that, because of low valuation, rates had always been high in Fitzherbert riding. which even had to raise loans for small bridges. The county had amalgamated its loans and bridges accounts, and he did not see why the same could not be done with plant accounts. Fitzherbert riding bad been compensated for the loss of Massey College rates by the reconstruction of No. GO highway without cost to that area, and the position was never more favourable for amalgamation. Cr. F. J. Russell said that if it had not been for the system of keeping riding accounts the Fitzherbert. area would never have been part of the county, as its unimproved value was about one-third that of the other ridings and consequently their land tax was lower. Objection to Threat. A direct threat had been made in the first place by the deputation that it would go to the Minister concerned if the council did not do what it required; he strongly objected to that method. Moreover. he was not in favour of the consolidation of ridings. The motion was also opposed by Crs. N. P. Nielsen. Al. W. Voss, W. G. Shannon and D. Collis. Cr. Collis eaid there were too many differences in valuations for a general rating system, which would penalize the man who had bought better class land. Taonui riding was paying a big drainage rate, from which Fitzherbert riding was exempt. Replying. Cr. Lynch said he agreed that, tlie riding system had done good work in the past, but he considered that it had now outlived its usefulness. There were some ratepayers in Fitzherbert riding paying drainage rates as high as 6/an acre.

The motion, which was phrased as a ■special order that sections 121 and 131. of the Act should not apply to Kairanga county after March 31. the balances then standing to the account of the separate ridings to be incorporated in the genera] fund, was lost.