URBAN FARM LANDS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11196, 3 May 1930, Page 5

URBAN FARM LANDS

PROBLEM OE RATING. MUNICIPAL ASSOC lATION COMMITTEE iXYEFTIO ATTXO. MINISTER PROMISES SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION. 'Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 2. Important decisions concerning local body taxation and the rating of urban farm lands were arrived at fit a moot inn; in Wpllington to-day of the executive of the Afunicipal Association of New Zealand. Announcing the results, to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. P. A. do la Perelle), tho Mayor or Feilding (Air. C. E. Taylor) stated that a special committee had been appointed to investigate tho. whole question of local body taxation ano revenue in New Zealand. The personnel is as follows: Mr. M. U Luckie (Deputy-Mayor ol Wellington); Mr. G. A. Lewm (Town Ueru. Dunedin): Air. P. S'konlvoul (Town Clerk. Stratford): Air. W. E Rogers (Mawor of Wanganui); Mr. t. Jordan (Mayor of Alnsterton); Mr. ! O’Mioa (Citv Solicitor. Wellington), and Air. E. C. Taylor (Mayor of Feilding). _ . . “Tho questions concerned m the m cmiry arc duo for review, ’ said r - Tavior. “We desire to find a system of taxation that will he lair 1m the whole Dominion and lor all classes of ratepayers. The committee the executive has to-dav sot up to go into the whole mat Du/ mb meet from time to time m Wo.'ington to see if it ‘-an hr'*".: lerwar,! to (ho association’s next- conference proposals designed to (flace locai hotly taxation on a holier basis. “H seems to he a very good move,” commented the Almister. FARAI LANDS IN BOROUGHS. Air. Taylor informed the Minister also that the executive would torward to him within a tort night a special report setting out . whatlegislative action they considered nerossarv on tin* question ol the 1:1 inn- of urban farm lands. The assoc-, intiiin asked that the report he given legislative effect. At- the executive meeting ye.vterdny it had been decided to urge that councils he allowed to give rebel up to 40 pel cent, instead of up to 60 per as proposed originally, and that the area, affected he reduced below the three acres proposed it the body decided hy resolution to give relief in such cases. “The association is desirous oi giving relief,” added Alt'. layln'./ “hut we do not- desire a mil classification of our borough to give relic, to a number of ratepayers. He mentioned that another now suggestion of the .executive "as that decisions of councils could ho roviewed by a tribunal consisting of either n, magistrate alone or a magistrate and two assessors whose decision would he final. . The Minister: “Was that a unanimous decision of your conference? ; Mr. Taylor: “Yes. and a secoriu resolution' was carried condemning the Bill promoted last, year. Tho Minister said that he was glad AH' Taylor had dealt with the question. Some- form ol rating mliof was absolutely essential. I lie representations of the eoideieuce would receive' his fullest eoOsidoi ation. .