KING'S COLLEGE RATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19417, 27 August 1926, Page 12

KING'S COLLEGE RATES.

PARTIAL EXEMPTION SOUGHT REQUEST TO BOROUGH COUNCIL VALUER-GENERAL TO DECIDE. The rating of the grounds of King's College, Middlemore, formed the subject of a deputation to the Otahuhu Borough Council last evening, Mr. P. H. Upton, chairman, and Mr. C. T. Major, headmaster, attending on behalf of the College Board. Mr. Upton said any increase in the rates would prove a hardship, as the college was only just paying its way. He asked the council to apply the power it possessed under the Rating Act to relieve the board from the payment of rates on its playing area of 20 acres. It was a case where the council should exercise that power. The college derived no benefit, from increased values of land and no one derived any'profit or remuneration from the fact of being connected with the board. No subsidy was received from the Government and the sole income was from the fees paid by the scholars. Mr. T. Clements asked whether, if the council granted exemption in respect of the 20 acres, the public would be allowed to use the gronnds. Mr. Upton said he considered such a proposal was not feasible. It was stated the total area oi the college grounds was 37 acres, of which four acres playing area was already exempt from rates The rates on the whole area amounted to £324 5s and the reduction sought would mean about £205. A member of the council said that to relieve the board of it? liability for rates meant that the ratepayers of Otahuhu would be subsidising the college. The council resolved to leave the matter with the Valuer-General to decide.