FREEDOM FROM RATES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 231, 29 August 1938, Page 6

FREEDOM FROM RATES

MASSEY COLLEGE PROPERTY.

NEARBY FARMERS CONCERNED. Further reference was made, at the monthly meeting of the Manawatu provincial exectuive of the I‘armers’ Union, to-day, to the tact that local, body rates were not paid on land owned by Massey College, when the lollowing remit was submitted from the Linton branch: —“"That in view of the Minister of Finance’s assurances, in a letter of August, 1937, that the question of Massey College rates would receive his attention, and in view of the fact that Massey College has since acquired another large property within this riding, this branch would like to knoiv at what decision the Minister has arrived.” , .

Moving the remit, Mr L. F. Ballinger reviewed the action taken in writing to the Minister in 1937. If Massey College went on acquiring land the rest ot the riding would have to- carry an increasing rate burden. The ratepayers had recently sanctioned a loan to improve the access to Palmerston North and that benefited the college. The position was a grave injustice to the other landholders in the ridingThe college was producing revenue from farming and should bear its just burden in rates. In seconding the motion, Mr B. G. Gower (Foxton) said that a similar position arose at Ohakea where a Defence Department aerodrome would not pay rates. The chairman (Mr H. J. McLeavey) suggested that it would possibly be advisable to hav.e the Kairanga County Council discuss the consolidation of rates instead of leaving them in ridings accounts. The Horowhenua County Council was faced with a similar trouble also in having the Boys Training Farm at Weraroa within its boundaries. That was far worse, however, for residents had had their cars damaged by boys escaping from the institution. (Laughter.) The motion was carried and the Minister of Finance is to be communicated with further.