KAITAIA RATING

Northland Age, Volume 25, Issue 14, 30 July 1925, Page 6

KAITAIA RATING

(To the Editor). Sir,—l notice in the “Age” of the 23rd inst that a deputation consisting of Messrs H.B. Matthews, J.L. Hester and F .Holder, waited on the Mangonui County Council to advocate a reduction in the general rate which it is proposed to strike in the Kaitaia Riding. The deputation also contended that the deficit of £1142, j in the said Riding should be made up by the county as a whole. The thanks of those residing it this Riding are due to these gentlemen for the trouble they took in this matter. Mr. Wrathall, replying to the deputation, (according to your report) stated that when the Kaitaia town district was formed, a sum of £SOO was paid to the Board to give them a start.

When Mr. Collins, the Government Commissioner, met representatives of the County Council and the Kaitaia Town Board to adjust matters as between the two bodies, he decided after hearing arguments from both sides, that the Council should pay over to the Board the sum of £250 a year for two years, and mainly for the reason that the town district had been revalued, whilst the rest of the county remained at the old valuation, and not, as I inferfrom Mr. Wrathall’s remarks, that the Council kindly handed over the money to give the Board a start. At the thepresent time the Hospital Board has levied an amount of £SOO on the town district, which is a little over one-fourth of the estimated total amount required to administer the hospital for the coming year. Now this is “where the shoe pinches”. Owing to the revaluation or the town district the valuation of even purely agricultural lands within the district has been increased, in some instances from £4 odd to £25 an acre, and for two years the towns people have actually been paying hospital rate and loan rates on this tremendously increased valuation. When the various loans were raised, notably the £54,000 loan, security was given of rates to be levied on the valuation which then obtained, and surely in common fairness, the proportion of liability on these loans of the town district, based on that valuation, should still be maintained. Instead of this the town district under the revaluation, is paying at least four times the amount that it was entitled to pay at the time the loans were raised. Is it any wonder, Mr.Editorthat the people of this town feel that they are being exploited by the Council in the rates. If the town continues to increase in values in the same ratio that it has maintained during the last few years it will, under the present unfair method of assessment, soon be finding at least half of the total sum required to pay interest and sinking fund on the various loans. There are several other great disabilities under which the town district is labouring but in view of the fact that the Government Commisioner is expected here shortly to make a final adjustment between the Council and the Town Board, I shall refrain from ventilating them at the present time. Thanking you in anticipation, for your valuable space. I am, etc., Fred h. S. Matthews