THE COLONIAL TREASURERS PROPOSALS re BOROUGH RATING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7353, 13 June 1885, Page 6

THE COLONIAL TREASURERS PROPOSALS re BOROUGH RATING.

In the committee's report, submitted to the City Council at its meeting on Thursday night, was » recommendation to the effect that the committee see no reason to alter the present system of rating. A telegram had been received from the Hon. Sir Julius Vogel as follows:—" To His Worship the Mayor of Auckland.—lt is under consideration to increase the rating limit within boroughs from £d to Id in the £ on the capital value, in order to give boroughs as large an income from rates as they possess under the system of levying Is in the £ on the annual value. I should be glad to learn the views of your Council on the question, also to know whether, if the law were altered in this direction, you would be willing to adopt the Rating Act, 1882, and rate on the capital value, thereby saving the nresent annual cost of valuation. An early iinswer would oblige. Reply free by teleijram." The matter had been submitted to the officials for their reports. 1 hereportof Mr. P. A. Philips, lown Clerk, dealt specifically with the matter. e pointed out that under the '.Rating Act, 1882, the valuation roll is made ior three years, and the provisions for increasing or decreasing valuation are not sufficient. The valuations made in the first year may be worth 50 per cent, advance in the second year, but there is no power to make such new valuations, or, by the same rale, to reduce them. The increase in valuation this year was £38,000, giving an advance of about £3500 in revenue, so that the annual cost of valuation is small compared with tbe advantage. Mr. Philips also points oat that clause 253 M. C. Aot, 1876, providing for payment of water by varying per centages on the annual value would necessitate the services of a valuer, and separate books. They had now about 500 consumers who paid by assessment, and last year the new valuations made for water supply payment were over 500. Donedin, Parnell, and Onebunga had decided to object to the - Act, and Wellington had decided not to adopt it.. The Library Act states specifically the rate to be levied, and the adoption of the Act of 1882 would necessitate separate books, etc., to collect this rate. In valuation for special rates six per cent, on the capital value is not to be exceeded. At present a cottage of the value of £200 would be rated on a valuation of about £20 per annum net, but 6 per cent, on the capital value would only represent. a value of £12. Mr. Eller, the rate collector, in his report, objected to the adoption of the Rating Act, 1882, from the unsatisfactory way in which the Government rolls are prepared, '" and fpr'"6ther reasons, and the constant changes pwnership and occupiers during the three yjearttsf: the currency of the roll/-and also the constant addition of new J, changes therein. The additional work would be very serious. Mr, H. G. Wade>i*he city valuer, also strongly*" oondemiied/tbe Rating Act of 1882, on account of its unworkable nature in a city like Auckland; and attached to his report a list of a few properties taken from the property tax assessment roll, showing rate at |d in the £1, also at Is, as levied by the Council. The list, which is as follows, is entirely in favour of the existing system — VALUATIONS COMPARED. No. on 0ct.,1882. Bate at. Jd. J&n.,1883. At Is. Govt. 8011. £ .£s. d. £ £a. d. 1,099 695 2 8 9 66 8 6 0 043 400 15 0 35 1 15 0 1.086 350 1 1 20i 26 16 0 216 ' 2,400 710 0 172 812 0 207 1,880 6 17 6 HO 7 0 0 173 300 0 18 9 24 14 0 183 1,660 5 3 li 115 5 15 0 187' '600 111 3 40 2 0 0 270 " 10,000 81 6 O 770 38 10 0 i) 0 4,000 12 10 0 424 21 4 0 iu3 800 2 JO 0 70 310 0 2iß 680 116 0 60 8 0 0 m 870 1 2 10 35 1 15 0 US 1.300 4 10. 80 J. 4W 0