WAIHI BOROUGH FINANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18296, 12 January 1923, Page 8

WAIHI BOROUGH FINANCE.

PROPOSAL BY TREASURY. RAISING SITE RENTALS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] "WAIHI. Thursday. In response to the repeated efforts of the Mayor, Mr. D. Donaldson, to obtain from the Minister for Finance some substantial remittance of the gold duty accruing, a communication has just been received from the Secretary to the Treasurer which points out certain conditions, stipulated by the recent Silting Commission. Among these was one by Mr. Glendon, the solicitor representing the Public Works Department at the commission, who suggested that, the Waihi Borough might enrich itself to the extent of 510,000 by consenting to an alteration in the Mining . Act which would compel residence site holders to pay the sum of £7 16s a year, and business site holders £15 a year, as against the existing rentals of 5s and £3 respectively. The increases mentioned were suggested by Mr. Clendon during the sitting of the Silting Commission at Paeroa in July last and the Minister for Finance has now written informing the Mayor that he would be glad to know the mind of the council upon this proposal. The Mayor is naturally " stronply opposed to this* proposition, which savours of the confiscation of the enhanced values created by the industry of the people themselves. *He points out also that the residence site holders had entered into an agreement with the Crown in most cases for a period of 42 years under the present tenure of 5s per yea«r, and that to cancel that agreement and make the enormous increase mentioned would be unreasonable and would be strongly resented by every citizen of the town.

A strong protest against the proposal has been forwarded to the Prime Minister.