Two Rates Struck In Mangonui County

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1945, Page 4

Two Rates Struck In Mangonui County

(Special)

To enable the levying of a reduced hospital rate of 2sd in the £ on unimproved value should the ValuerGeneral not proceed to collect the higher figure of 6id, as previously indicated, the Mangonui County Council on Thursday confirmed notice of intention given at the November meeting to strike the rate on the lower basis.

A formal resolution at the special meeting was agreed to by four votes to three to strike the rate, but action to levy the rate was not taken at this stage.

Voting for the resolution was: Crs. F. Holder, J. I. Berghan, W. Hales. J. T. Steed; against, Crs. W. Bell, J. W. Hoskin and C. J. C. Barriball. Regret that, since his direction to the Valuer-General was final, he was unable to accede to the council’s request to postpone action by the ValuerGeneral pending further consideration of the council’s action, was contained in a telegram from the MirSfeter for Health (Hon A. H. Nordmeyer)'. NO PROMISE FROM P.M. A letter from the Prime Minister stated that while he could assure the council that the Government would give the findings of the Parliamentary. Select Committee on Local Government .careful consideration, and while the difficulties of rating in certain parts of the Dominion were fully appreciated, he could give no promise that all the recommendations of the

KAITAIA, This Day.

select committee would be embodied in legislation;

Seconding the motion of the chairman (Cr. F.; Holder) that the reduced rate be struck, Cr. Hale's said that not, to do so would be deliberately inviting the Valuer-General to proceed with his action. Criticism of the proposed council action was made by Cr. Hoskin on the grounds that it would involve ratepayers in needless additional expense.

Cr. Bell reminded the council of negotiations between the Farmers’ Union and the Government on the council’s behalf by Messrs. Sexton and Rushworth. He asked whether, if the council imposed a rate, the ratepayers were to pay the council or the ValuerGeneral, and expressed little faith in possible support from the Counties’ Association through No. 1 Ward. The engineer-clerk (Mr. A. M. Theed) advised that striking the rate at this juncture would obviate a later time-lag should a levy for hospital purposes be necessary if the Government failed tO'-act.