HIGHER GENERAL RATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23103, 30 July 1938, Page 18

HIGHER GENERAL RATE

CHRISTCHURCH PROPOSAL INCREASE OF 3-8 D SUGGESTED [by telegraph—owx correspondent] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday A recommendation that the city's general rate be increased by fd in the pound will, it is understood, be made to the Christchurch City Council by its Finance Committee. If this recommendation is approved by the council, the general rate will rise from 2jd in the pound on unimproved value to 2|d in the pound.

The Finance Committee's recommendation will he considered at a special meeting of the council next Monday night. An increase of |d in the pound will yield about £17,000. Last year the general rate of 2}d in the pound Mas calculated to produce £114,768, this being a slight increase on the general rate for 1936-157.

If the council decides to increase the general rate by 2d, the total of general and special rates levied on city properties this year will be about £43,000 more than was struck last year, for there have been increases in the rates collected by the council for three other local bodies. These are the Christchurch Drainage, Board, the Christchurch Tramway Board, and the North Canterbury Hospital Hoard. The Drainage hoard has decided increase its levy by £18.591?, the Tramway Board by £9OOO, and the Hospital Board by £1736. Against this increase will be offset the decrease of £2530 in the Christchurch Fire Board's levy.