CITY OUTGOINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 142, 17 June 1936, Page 10

CITY OUTGOINGS

RATEPAYERS' CONCERN EVER-INCREASING LEVIES AIRPORT AND HOSPITAL

The prospect of increasing rate levies | to a degree when they will become crippling to property owners unless collective action is taken to obtain some measure of security, was discussed with a good deal of concern at a meeting of the executive of the Wellington Ratepayers' Association last night. Speakers said that there was a growing tendency in both general and local government to add increased burdens upon property owners because it was an easy and sure way of finding revenue. The system of levy upon property was open to serious abuse, and it was most unfair to expect one section of the community to bear community costs that were really the responsibility of the whole community. As- an illustration, the increased hospital levy was discussed, and the meeting was unanimously of opinion that hospital expenditure had reached such a pass that it had become a burden beyond the capacity of ratepayers, who were faced with what had developed by stages to what was virtually the nationalisation of the hospital system —opening of public hospitals to all patients, irrespective of their ability to pay, while yet the burden of providing the funds fell most unequally upon the public, in the increasing demands upon property owners. FIXED EATING BASE. It was remarked that under the un.improved value system of rating of Wellington the basis for the collection of rates remained fixed, in contradistinction to the operation of rating upon capital value. In the former case the area of land upon which rates were struck was the same from year to year; under the capital value system the erection of new buildings broadened the base uponwhich rates were levied, and thus, as development took place, the charges for increasing city maintenance and services were further spread. Under the unimproved value system, on land only, the additional costs of increased services, drainage, water, etc., required when new buildings were erected, still fell upon the same fixed area of land, nor did revaluations affect the position except in minor degree, beyond to some extent transferring the increasing burden from one property owner or section of owners to another. "As has so often been pointed out by the Wellington Ratepayers' Association, there are many hundreds of citizens who have invested the savings of a lifetime in the building of a home only to find in the retiring years of their lives that they have to meet rates that have become a rent, and a heavy rent at that," stated the report. It was alsp stated in the report that a year or. fivo back there had been some hope that the Wellington Hvie authorities were working in the direction of rate reduction, but at the moment there was every indication that unless ratepayers were awakened to the present serious state of. affairs, •works would "be undertaken— almost before they were aware of it that •would greatly increase their already heavy burdens. . It was, of course, recognised that productive and necessary works must be carried out, but ratepayers right; y expected that these -works should be kept within the limit of the financial resources of the community.

THE AIRPORT QUESTION. There was considerable discussion upon the airport question, from two angles, whether the development of the airport was not a national rather than a municipal undertaking, and, secondly, whether it had been clearlj demonstrated, by actual investigation, that Rongotai, considering the very heavy expenditure still to be and the disadvantages which it would still possess, was the most suitable location for an airport for Wellington. Members considered that it would be a serious mistake for ratepayers to vote for a loan for the purpose of extensions. It was considered that such work was a national one, and that the City Council should not even expect ratepayers to do more than had already been done. If it was decided that Rongotai was to be made into a first-class aerodrome, the responsibility should be accepted as a national responsibility and the cost be borne by the whole of the people in New Zealand, and not a mere handful of ratepayers who happened to be resident in Wellington.

A PUBLIC DISCUSSION. What applied to Rongotai applied equally to hospital affairs and many other matters, stated the report of the association, and so that those matters and others as vitally important to the general body of ratepayers might receive consideration it was decided to call a general meeting of ratepayers on Tuesday, June 30. Remits on any matter bearing upon the rate problem are to be invited from ratepayer citizens. These are to be submitted to a sub-committee that has been appointed and, if relevant, the remit will be added to the agenda paper and discussed at the Public meeting. It has been decided that the meeting will be devoted entirely to business, and there . will be no prearranged addresses. The object of the meeting is to give ratepayers an opportunity to express their views upon civic matters affecting the rate question.