THE CITY MATING SYSTEM.

Evening Post, Volume XL, Issue 10, 11 July 1890, Page 2

THE CITY MATING SYSTEM.

COUNCILLOR PETHBRIQK'S PROPOSAL NKGATIVED. Some time was Bpent by the City Connoil last evening in disoussing the motion of Councillor Fetheriok for a chango in the mode of rating property. The motion was as follows:— "That the Mayor and the mover with the City Solicitor bo empowered to draw out a Bill or petition to present to the House of Representatives to amend the mode or prinoiple of the Rating Act, so far as to amend tho same. The City Valuer shall roako a true valuation of tho streets, private streets, rights of way, lanes, alleys, avenueß, or other frontagos per foot on the land situated in the Borough of Wellington." Councillor Petherick, Bpcaking to the motion, paid the proposed syslem was one which had been in his mind for a oonsiderablo titno, and he was of opinion that it should have been adopted in Wellington many yoars ago. Ho had oonsultod a number of people on the Bubjeot, and all had agreod with him that it was desirable it should be adopted. It had been a practice with speculators in tho past to purohase blooks of land in tho city and leave the colony for a time, relying upon the oitizens to increase the value of the properties. On their return to the colony they put the land into the markot and realised greatly enhanoed prioes, although they had spent no money in improvements. In his own neighbourhood there was a gentleman owning two aqres who paid losb rates than ho did for a property which had a frontage to Willisstreet of only 20 foet, and thore were many cases suoh as that. He was oonvineed that if the present Bjstera was altorod so as to compel owners to pay according to frontage less land wonld be allowed to remain idle. When a man possessed land with a frontago he Bhould pay a foot frontage on tho annual value of the property. The system was one which commended itself to him, and he asked the Counoil to give it a trial. Councillor Worth seconded tho motion pro forma. Councillor Fraeer was in favour of the system proposed, bnt thought that as the question was one of colonial importance tho Counoil should oonfine itself to recommending that the Aot Bhould be amended in the direction Btated by tho previous speaker. To go further than that would he considered be labour lost. If the Counoil agreed that tho system was a desirable one,areoommedation might be made that the law should be altered accordingly, but he thought it would bo a mistake for any particular munioipal body to try and get the Act amended. Councillor Smith agreod with the principle, but thought that the Counoil should not take the step proposed on its own account. He suggested that all the other munioipal bodies in the oolony should bo communicated with on the subjeot, and if it was considered desirable joint aotion could be taken to obtain the proposed power. Councillor Worth was of opinion that the present system of rating was not fair to the small ownerß, and he would like to see the feeling of other Councils on the proposal ascertained. Tho present system of rating retarded progress. Owners wore prevented from improving their properties, and many people preferred to go and reside in other colonies where more equitable systems were in vogue. He himself had hind lying idle which, if improved, wonld bring a revonue of about £15 a year to the Corporation, and tbero was many other snch cases in the oity. The time had oomo when an alteration should be made, and ho approved of the proposal to affeot an amendment. Councillor Brandon thought that there would be no improvement upon tho present system by adopting tho system proposed by Councillor Petherick. It seemed to him that if the proposal were given effect to improvements would be disregarded, and tbo result of this would be, for instance, that a pieco of land on Lambton-qnay worth iUOOO, and with a building upon it worth XI IOO, wonld pay the same] rates as a section at Newtown worth £500, and with a building upon it worth .€5OO. Councillor Chapman considered that the proposal to rate according to frontage was absurd. Councillor Brown suggested that the question should be adjourned bo as to enable it to be further considered. The matter was one of colonial importance, and as the general elections were close at band, it might be brought before the notice of candidates. Councillor Pethirick, in replying, dealt at length with the arguments against his proposals. He denied the statement of ono Councillor that the Council wonld make itself ridiculous by appealing to Parliament, and said that there were mon in the Council quite as capable of filling publio offices as members of the House. He, for one, bad never tried to climb a lamp-post. (" Oh, oh," and "name.") The Mayor— How long ago was that t Councillor Petberiok, continuing, expressed his willingness that the motion should stand over, but suggested that if this were done steps should be taken to ascertain the feeling of other munioipal bodies on the subject. He added that he had been informed that the system was in force in several places in Great Britain. After further discussion, Councillor Petherick asked permission to withdraw the resolution so that he could bring it forward again at an early date. Several Councillors objected to give the required permission, and Councillor Petherick was obliged to allow tho resolution to be put, with the result that it was lost on the voices.