THE HARBOUR BILL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 79, 13 December 1887, Page 2

THE HARBOUR BILL.

The Gisborne Harbour Act Amending Bill has finally passed through the Lower House, but not until the rating clauses were abandoned. This leaves the Board in the same position as regards their powers to rate as before. The rating powers of the-Board have been strenuously objected to by some of the ratepayers as being contrary to the Act, and to the intention of the ratepayers when the loan was floated. A majority of the members of the Board have always maintained that the Act gave them power to rate up to two pence in the Borough and one penny in the County. On the other hand it has been contended that the Act only provided for the imposition of one penny in the Borough and one half-penny in the County. To prevent any litigation on the difference of opinion it was thought advisable to insert a clause in the Amending Bill which would set at rest all doubts as to the interpretation of the Act. That this clause has had to be abandoned is to be regretted, for it would be a great pity were anything now to occur to disturb the machinery under which the Board is working. For the present half year the rate has been struck at one penny for the Borough and a half-penny for the County. This will bring in the sum of Z’sooo, which, together with interest accruing from fixed deposits, will make up the X* 10,000, annual interest on the amount of the loan. Next year the Board will, require rates to nearly the whole amount of the interest, and it is difficult to forsee how this sum can be reached were the rates to be only one penny, and one half-penny. This is assuming that the interpretation of the Act is that the lesser rate is all that can be levied. But there need be little fear on the point, for no doubt, next session, a clause similar to the one abandoned will be again advanced. The other amending clauses, it would appear, have been agreed to, but what may be done in the Upper House is yet to be seen.