ONE COUNTY RATE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 116, 16 April 1934, Page 2

ONE COUNTY RATE

HOROWHENUA COUNCIL’S DECISION. LOAN CONVERSION PREPARATIONS. By a unanimous vote, the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday decided that the interest and sinking fund for loans on special areas, in tho great majority of cases, should bo charged against the general fund of tre county. The effect of the resolution is that, with the exception of areas served, by a water supply paid for by loan money, the rates over the whole of the county will be uniform. The change is to apply for the current financial year. , In moving the motion dealing with the matter, Cr. L. H. Atkins said that the loans which it was proposed to consolidate did not affect purely local amenities such as drainage of definite lands. The finance committee had found tha.t to procure the greatest benefits from loan conversion, as many loans should be consolidated as possible. In former times, when certain roads and bridges had been constructed they benefited certain areas alone, but mow, with changed conditions, the whole county received benefit. Special areas did not receive exclusive benefit now, yet they paid an exclusive rate. Yet, at present, the whole of the county was liable for the payment of special rates if ratepayers in a special area did not meet tlieir obligations. The proposed change would remove rating anomalies which resulted in very unfair differences. He would not deny that there would be a movement of rates, that some would pay more and others less, but he thought that it would be a move in tlie right direction. Besides that, the office work would be simplified. Times had progressed and the council should progress with them. With the consolidation of rates the way would be paved for a loan conversion which would, in some measure, offset the increase of rates in some districts.

Cr. F. J. Ryder seconded the motion, saying that the time had arisen for such a change. There should he more co-operation than in the past. He could do no more than endorse what had been said.

FUTURE POLICY QUESTIONED. Cr. L. H. Best asked what would happen in the future when particular roads were to be built. He did not want to leave the position so that when some ratepayers were relieved to a certain extent they could load their land again with further special rates. Cr. A. J. Gimblett said he would also like to know what was to be done in the future with regard to the construction of further roads. Cr. A. M. Colqulioun said he -dia not think that the council could lay down any definite plan for the future. What was needed, though, was a scheme to protect the future. The chairman (Cr. G. A. Monk) said that Crs. Atkins and Ryder represented a riding that would be affected as much as any in the rise of some rates. If rating could be brought on to a common basis it would be fairer. Such a change as that suggested would equalise rating. Hid country would have lower rates, but in places on the flats the rating would be higher. At the present time lating in one district in particular was not equitable in that one farm was paying much higher rates than another because of special rating areas. The check on the future would be, firstly, that the council bo formed of men from all over the county, and, secondly there was the fact that loans had to be justified before they, would be sanctioned by tlie Local Bodies’ Loans Board. As for the distant future, who could say what would be the position then? The position had changed in the past and it could just as easily do so in the future. If a road was needed for one district then the council would surely see that it was provided. One way of providing funds for future loans would be to make _ the rate over the whole county a little more than was needed at tlie time, which would, in the course of years, build up a fund that eoukl be lent to the areas requiring it. Thus the loan question would be solved in a manner different from that used m the past. The loans would be raised internally. The speaker said he thought the benefits would outweigh the difficulties. Cr. C. P. Jensen said that the passing of the motion would benefit the majority of ratepayers and for that reason lie would siippoi't it. In reply, Cr. Atkins said that the present council had found an anomalous position and was doing its best to riglrt it. The council had no right to presume upon the intelligence of the future with regard to councillors’ decisions. There was too much parochialism in life to-day, and to pass the motion would partly do away with the complaint. The motion was carried unanimously. Cr. Atkins expressed his appreciation of the unanimous vote. The chairman said he thought that the notion was the most important that had been passed since lie had joined the council. It was a motion which would make history for tlie county. He paid a warm tribute to the work of the clerk (Mr F. H. Hudson) for Iris excellent work in compiling statistics which had allowed the council to view the matter with greater ease. Thanking the chairman, the clerk said that, all being well, lie would be able to submit to the next meeting of the council a loans conversion scheme.