A Question Of Rating.

Northland Age, Volume 27, Issue 39, 19 October 1927, Page 5

A Question Of Rating.

How Much Or How Little Position In The County What Is Proposed Mr Wilkinson's Opinion In behalf of the ratepayers in the Mangonui County Mr Geo. Wilkinson when speaking as one of a deputation to the County C mncil on Friday, referred to the matter of the rate for the ensuing yea'-. “Since the last meeting,” he said “I have seen a copy of the proposed rating and this is somewhat belter than we anticipated it would be. There was a tear expressed by a good many ratepayers that under the new valuation the rate would be still the same as before, and we thought that there should be a reduction in the rate. The Chairman: What did you expect.

Mr Wilkinson: We didn’t know The rate t«x by local bodies is a bigger 'tax on the primary producers ihan the Government tax by way of tariffs and various other taxes. Many settlers in this County wno are struggling very hard to pay their rates find it very difficult and I feel sure the time will come when there will have to be a reduction. There will come a time when the motorcar will have to carry a larger share of the burden and we recogn se the difficulty ot the Council in tb's matter. At the end of last financial vear you had a large surplus in hand and we claim that tms should have been decreased and the money placed on the roads. We are faced with a drainage rate in the near future win :h will be something like the County rate and if this is levied it will drive many people off the land. If you can see your way to make the rate this year as light as possible the ratepayers will be very grateful.”

Later in the day, the Council discussed the question of the rates. The County Clerk brought forward a proposed rate to be levied on the new valuation in the various ridings.

Mr Wrathall said that at last election, the councillors all made certain statements that they would be in a position to bring about certain reductions. “We have not been able to do very much,” le said, “but with a new valuation, we hope to be able to make a decrease in the matter of poundage. All the ridings have participated in the increased valuations with the exception of Houhora, and apart from Ahipara every riding has increased in unimproved land value. The Mangonui riding has increased by £1998, and I ask that the rate which was formerly 4d in the £ be decreased to $Hd in the £. Mr. Houston: We have to provide tor our hospitals. The Chairman : We are trying to keep down the general rate out wnat is tripping us up is the hospital rate. Do you think the Hospital Board will be able i j m ke a do on 2d. Mr. Houston: We sincerely hope so. What has forced our rate up Is the equipping of the Kailaia Hospital. That of course will not be a recurring expenditure. We are trying to keep down expenses in every way, but the biggest burden we have had to free has been Charitable Aid for the Native population which pays no County rates. Mr Kitchen : That is so and we can’t very well help out position in that direction. The Ctv';-,an : T'-'e equipping of the hospital has nothing to do with it. Mr Houston : You don’t know what you are talking about Mr Chairman. The Council then considered

the following proposal by the Clerk.

5 ‘■d ft 3S'" 1 Inc. Gen. H. £54,000 Sp. o.c. Riding Val. Rate 1926-7 Rate Rate R. Rate R. Total Awanui £9186 3% £B3l/14/9 4% £Bl2/9/6 3% 2 3 lYs 9 H c .S. Abipara 3% 553/13/5 4 599/15/8 «<q rie.ekino 2464 4 658/11/0 = X 3 Houbora 864 3M 1031/5/° " 3 S a,,a,a . i66g6 3% 933/14/6 •a Mangonui 1998 4 695/4/8 4 661/18/8 42 1% 7% 8 Oruru . 3060 3 H 773/16/3 4 774/8/0 3V4 26% a. Victoria Val. 4242 3% HSI/9/8 4 1157/11/0 3M 2 3 1% *1 ft* 5T

The Chairman : I want to point out to you gentlemen that there will be no coming here and asking for leave to spend money when you are not in credit. Mr Houston: Why don’t you practise what you preach. Your riding account is well on the wrong side and how will you be getting on if you carry out that policy in your.own riding.

Gen. Hos. £54100 Spec. Tl. d. d. L.R. d. d. d. Awanui 3 5-8 2 3 1 1-8 9 3-4 Ahipara 3 5-* 2 3 I 1-8 9 5-8 Herekino 4 2 3 9-16 99-16 Houhora 3 3-4 2 3 1 1-8 9 1-8 Kaitaia 3 2 3 I 1-8 9 1-2 Mangonui 3 3-4 2 — I 1-8 6 5-8 Oruru 3 3-4 2 — I 1-8 6 7-8 Victoria Valley 3 1-2 2 3 I 1-8 9 5-8