Rate Relief Measure Not Equitable

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 262, 9 November 1934, Page 3

Rate Relief Measure Not Equitable

CITY AN DTOWN INTERESTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED

Tho Government’s decision to grant a 12J per cent, rebalo on county rates was referred to at last evening’s meeting of the Feilding Borough Council by the Mayor, Mr. C. E. Taylor, w r ho, it will bo recalled, sent a telegram to lion. J. G. Cobbe, Miinstcr for Justice, urging the consideration of city and town interests in any jrato relief proposals. Reporting this fact to the council last evening tho Mayor said that lie had received the following reply from Mr. Cobbe;

“Replying lo your telegram urging consideration inclusion of business premises and sections in business area of boroughs in provision of Finance Bill for payment of subsidy of tho total amount of rates levied. You will have noticed urban farm lands within the meaning of the Urban Farm Land Rating Act have been included in provision. The suggested inclusion of business premises and sections in business area could not very well be agreed to without similar application to lands in the cities which concession I am sure your council will agree could not be favourably entertained.’’

Tho Mayor stated that he lmd replied to the Minister as follows: "My' telegram to you, I think, clearly sets out that, generally speaking, tho relief of ralo burden was just as necessary in tlfo towns as in tho counties. I specially stressed six classes of borough ratepayers as follow: Owners of business premises, sections in business area, urban farm lands, largo vacant sections, unemployed endeavouring to retain their homes, and residences with large sections attached. In your reply' you specially mention business premises and sections in business area and state that you feel sure that our council would not agree to granting concessions to such premises and sections in tho cities. Tho Borough Council has not expressed its opinion on that point, but I think it will bo found that tho council is of opinion that the difficulties in the larger cities are as acute as they are in the smaller boroughs. My whole purpose in sending the telegram of November 5 was to bring under your notice the difficulties in tho boroughs. I quite agree that tho majority of farmers arc in need of relief from rates, but 1 think also that the majority of ratepayers in boroughs find themselves in a similar position. As a matter of fact I think that investigation would show that the owners of business premises having regard to lower rents and vacant shops and offices, are, if anything, in a worse position than a great number of tho farming compiunity. I am awaro that farmers organisations liavo represented tho sorry financial plight of a great number of farmers to tho Government and as a result have afforded relief but I do not think that, having regard to the difficulties that borough and city ratepayers arc at the present time labouring nnder, the Government should have considered tho borough and city ratepayers equally with the county ratepayers. The relief proposed to urban farm land owners, i 3 most welcome, but further consideration should, in my judgment, havo been given the remaining ratepayers ill borouglis. ” Continuing, tho Mayor said:—"l do feel, however, that further maturo and urgent representations should bo made on behalf of urban areas if the Govern-

ment resolves to give further relief to

ratepayers. I think the whole thing needs to bo considered, from tho borough and city standpoint. With tho Farmers’ Union and other organisations, the difficulties of the farmers arc represented to the Government almost daily. It is a matter the next municipal conference will have to take up and chambers of commerce should also interest themselves in the question. I do think in any future relief of the kind it should be made -equitable and the town should be considered equally with the country.’’ Tho Mayor went on to say that ho had drafted the following remit on the subject for the consideration of tho municipal conference: — "That the Government when considering any future relief to county ratepayers by way of rebate on rates or otherwise, he urged to take into consideration the position of ratepayers in cities, boroughs and town boards, as the hardships upon ratepayers in urban districts due to economic and financial conditions are equally burdensome with hardships suffered by rural ratepayers." Or. A. C. McCorkindalc could not see the justice of tho present position. County ratepayers were certainly receiving a great benefit. Tho Mayor went on to say that it had to bo remembered that most of the roads through counties were main highways and carried substantial subsidies from the Alain Highways Board. Air. Taylor did not begrudge the farmer the relief ho was getting but felt that some consideration should liavo been given tho town ratepayer. Ho could not see any difference in tho cases of tho town and tho county ratepayer. The council confirmed tho Mayor’s action and agreed to tho remit going forward to the municipal conference.