RATING POLLS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 89, 13 March 1935, Page 8

RATING POLLS

VIEWPOINT OF CHAMBER. Following upon recent representations by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce on the matter of the period between rating polls, and the percentage of ratepayers necessary to secure a poll, the council of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon adopted the following .resolulutions submitted by its legislation committee on the subject:—“The committee is unable to agree with the suggestion of increasing the percentage of ratepayers’ signatures required on a requisition to take a poll on the question of rating. The present law provides for a requisition from 15 per cent, of the ratepayers and as such as percentage would amount to a particularly large number in any local body it cannot he conceived that such a number would be ‘more or less irresponsible’ as suggested by tlie Dunedin chamber. ” “Tlie Dunedin chamber has suggested extending tlie, period within which another poll on the question may not be taken from three to seven years. A most objectionable feature to this would arise if, after an alteration had been made, it was found desirable to revert to the previous method of rating. It would be necessary to wait seven years, notwithstanding that 100 per cent, of the ratepayers may desire to change. It is therefore recommended that no alteration should he made.” The report was adopted on the motion of Air AI. H. Oram (chairman of the committee), seconded by Air A. J. Graham (president).