NEW RATING SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19649, 30 May 1927, Page 11

NEW RATING SYSTEM.

PROPOSAL AT TAKAPUNA.

UNIMPROVED VALUE BASIS. Takapuna is now definitely committed to the taking of a poll on the question of the adoption of the system of rating on the unimproved value. The petition in favour of the change was presented to„.the town clerk on Saturday and bore over 600 signatures, obtained from all parts of the borough. The provision of the Rating Act, 1925, is that in a borough of the si:se of Takapuna a demand by 15 per cent, of the ratepayers shall be sufficient to call for a poll, which shall be taken not less than 21 days," arid * not more than 28 days, after the delivery of the petition at the municipal office. In the case of Takapuna, which has 2169 ratepayers on its roll, 325 petitioners would have been enough to make a poll compulsory. The poll is to be on tiie same basis as that provided for in the case of loan proposals, and a majority of votes will decided the question. , If the proposal is carried, the new system will come into operation on March 31 next, and no proposal for reverting to the system of rating on capital value can be considered for at least three years. On the other hand, if the proposal is rejected, it cannot again be submitted to the ratepayers for another three years. The next step is for the town cleflc to .verify the signatures to the petition and give notice of the required poll.