RATING AT THAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20961, 26 August 1931, Page 7

RATING AT THAMES.

INCREASE OF 9 PER CENT. MEETING DEBIT BALANCES. [racm on ows coaaEspoiTDEjin. ] THAMES, Tuesday. The burning question in Thames at present is the matter of rates. A careful comparison of the figures goes to show that the increase will not be so severe on the ratepayers as has been calculated in some quarters. Hie consolidated rate struck last year •was Is 7 17-40 d in the pound, on a ratable value of £272.787, and this "was calculated to produce £22,085. The water rate was Id in the pound, producing £IOSO. This year the consolidated rate is 2s IG-id in "the pound on a ratable value •of £167,790, producing £24.050. The water rate is lgd in the pound,, producing: £976. The increase of nearly £2OOO. in, the arno'mt produced by the consolidated rate is its meet:, in part, debit balances carried forward from last year. This is in spite of economies effected by the present council totalling ££7oo. The increase in this year's rates as compared with those for the 1930-31 period is 9.3 per cent., and as compared with those for 1929-30, 7.8 per cent. The .capita] value at the last valuation of Thames Borough was £525,555, and the public, debt on July 1, 1951, excluding the electricity department, which is _ a profit-making concern and which finds its own- interest and .stnteng..- fend, was £229,163. . A Bet-off against this was the : accretion of sinking lands totalling - £IB,OOO. ' i