DISCUSSION ON RATES.

Matamata Record, Volume XIII, Issue 1134, 30 June 1930, Page 5

DISCUSSION ON RATES.

UP OR DOWN, HIGH OR LOW

Difference of Opinion.

On the formal resolution in regard to the confirmation of rates for the coming year being read at Wednesday’s meeting of the Matamata Town Board, the chairman stated

that he wished to again point out the rates had not gone up. There was an impression abroad that Matamata was very highly rated, but this was not so, considering the facilities they had in water, sewerage and other improvements. Mr. Stewart held it was no use saying the rates were, not high, because they were. He said that with all due respect to previous boards and the present board. In Te Aroha a £IOOO house cost only £8 in rates, and they knew what such a house cost here. Te Aroha had all the facilities that Matamata had. Not so long ago an- exchange of houses in Matamata and Newmarket took place, and the Matamata house was rated £2 higher than the other. “ It is no use trying tb kid ourselves we are not heavily rated,” concluded the

speaker. The chairman: We are not kidding ourselves. The point I want to emphasise is that rates have not gone up; it is only the incidence which has been altered.

Mr. Stewart held that rates had

gone up,

The chairman replied that the unit had been increased, but the valuation was lowered so that actually they were only collecting the same amount of money from the whole town.

Mr. Stewart: Yes, from the whole town, but not from individuals.

Desultory comment was made-on the poor results in Auckland, suburban areas obtained from rating on unimproved values and the confirmation of the rate resolution was then agreed to.

would raise the price and increase 'land values in New Zealand. He thought the protection of the New Zealand wheat industry had merely enabled owners of wheat-growing land to sell out at bigger prices.

Mr. Topham said the main obstacle in the way of Imperial Preference seemed to be that the Dominions could not arrange the politics of Britain, where there was a popular objection to any sort of protection which seemed likely to result in dearer food. Mr. Stephens agreed that it would be hard to get the support of British Free Traders.