RATING SYSTEMS.

Evening Star, Issue 21819, 7 September 1934, Page 10

RATING SYSTEMS.

TO THB EDITOR. Sir,—As His Worship the Mayor and Cr Silverston© have, taken the course of publicly announcing through various channels their view on the question of rating on improved value, we, the undersigned councillors, consider that it is our duty to make it clear to the ratepayer that the views so expressed by the gentlemen named are not shared by the council as a whole. After giving full consideration to all the aspects of the question, we consider that it would not be in the best interests of the city generally that the suggested change in the rating system should be made, and we therefore recommend all ratepayers to vote against the proposal.—We are, etc., James J. Mahlow. A. H. Allen. John L. M’lndoe W. Begg. W. A. Scott. H. C. Campbell. W. H. Roerie. W- H, Shepherd. Councillors. September 7.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —At present an effort is being launched to “ boost” business in Dunedin. The citizens are to be exhorted to, amongst other things, put in hand improvements to their houses. Under the present system of rating every pound spent on improvements incurs a penalty in the shape of an increase in rates. Before committing themselves to expense ratepayers of moderate means would therefore be well advised to defer action until the result of the poll on rating on unimproved values is known.—l am, etc., Worker. September 7. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—" Unemployed ” must not reckon on the value put on' his land (£400) by an experienced valuer. _ This £4OO is speculative value. He will be agreeably sin-prised if he pays a call on the Government Valuation Department, and on payment of a fee of Is he will be told the true Government unimproved value of his land, which is always considerably less than that which agents and the corporation valuer’s office make it. I am speaking from facts, and am in a position to know that his land is probably set down

at £IOO or £l5O. I was surprised myself. Tho land I own is valued by the corporation valuer’s office at £BOO, and the Government only has it down for £4OO. Selling value is always a gamble. My advico_ to all who are in doubts as to the unimproved value of their land is to find out from the proper quarters before it is too late, and the office will certainly be blocked by _ inquiries this week-end. I know a retired bank manager who owns no property in Dunedin, but who rents a house, and he tells all his friends to vote for_ the present system. Would be do so if he was a landlord? I doubt it. Take a chance, “ Unemployed.” In three years wo can vote the present system back if not satisfied.—l am, etc., Give It a Go. September 7. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Mr P. W. Shacklock has repeated “ ad nauseam ” that under unimproved rating Mornington will have £3,000, North-East Valley £2,000, Anderson’s Bay £4,000, and Caversham and South Dunedin £12,000, and he hopes by mere affirmation to get people to believe it. I will accept Mr Shacklock s challenge. First let him lodge his certified cheque for £SO with some trust company. I definitely challenge his statement that South Dunedin and Caversham would have their rates reduced by £12,000 per annum. Let Mr Shacklock show just how he arrives at this figure, and I will expose the unreliable and unscientific nature of all his calculations. Take Cutten street as an example of the accuracy of his figures. He says tho standard quarter-acre sections are paying £9 in rates, and would be reduced to £4 10s. Here are two actual cases in that street: — Allotment 9, Block 8, house, 5 rooms, on quarter-acre section; annual value, £32; present rates, £7 6s Bd, plus 10s w.c., £7 16s Bd. Under "unimproved (Government valuation, £250) ; rates (assuming lid in £), £ll 9s 2d, plus w.c. 10s, £ll 19s 2d. Allotment-10, Block 8, 5 rooms, quar-ter-acre; annual value, £26; present

rates, £5 19s 2d, plus 10s w.c., £6 9s 2d; present unimproved (Government valuation), £250; rates (assuming lid in £, £ll 9s 2d, plus w.c. 10s, £ll 19s 2d.—l am, etc., John L. MTndoe. September 7. TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, —I wish to ask Mr P. W. Shacklock if, in the event of the unimproved rating system being carried, he will assist a certain person in paying her rates if the rates are increased instead of reduced. This lady is an old-aged pensioner with no means except her pension. Her little property on which she lives consists of a small section on which is a three-roomed cottage, with no conveniences, valued at £2lO. Her rates for this year are just under £5. She has struggle enough to meet this amount, so I ask will she receive help through Mr Shacklock if her rates are increased? 1 will take Mr Shadklock to interview this lady if he calls on me, should he care to do so he can get my address from the editor.—l am, etc., Interested.