PAYMENT OF RATES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22612, 15 April 1948, Page 3

PAYMENT OF RATES

STATE BUILDINGS LOCAL BODIES’ REMIT CONCERN EXPRESSED (P a.) DUNEDIN. April 15. Should the Government be asked to pay rates on its buildings? This was discussed at the conference of the Municipal Association yesterday when a remit from Eastbourne was being considered The remit asked that representations should be made to the Minister of Finance, Mr. W. Nash, that the rate of subsidy pavable to boroughs and cities under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1933, be increased and that the limit of the subsidy be also in creased.

A similar remit was carried by the 1946 conference and was noted for consideration by the Department of In ternal Affairs.

Mr. M. S. Galloway, Wellington, said Wellington was particularly concerned about the position—more so than any other city in New Zealand. A subsidy four or five times the present one was needed. Mr. S. L Armstrong, One Tree Hill sugested that a schedule should be prp pared showing losses on lands Mr. E W. Nicolaus, Mayor of Upper Hutt, said the association should demand that the Government pay its rates as other people did This was the only way in which the position could be overcome Mr. L J. Ireland, Dunedin, said that if the association wanted the Govern ment to pay rates it must expect that local bodies should pay income tax.

Mr. Nicolaus moved as an amendment that the Government should be required by the association to pay or dinary rates within the association's areas forthwith The remit was carried.

Representations made by the Muni cipal Association last year to the Government expressing strong disapproval of any transfer of traffic control from the Transport Department to the Police Department are to receive careful con sideration by the Government. The Government’s reply to the remit sent by the association was read at the conference, and it was decided that no further action should be taken. The association considered that the educative work of the transport department was primarily responsible for New Zealand having the lowest death and accident rale on the roads of the world.