DRAINAGE RATING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16964, 28 March 1917, Page 2

DRAINAGE RATING

INCREASE OBJECTED TO. The Dunedin Drainage Board met last evening, there being present Messrs W. T. M'Farlaiie (in the chair),. White, Kellett, Shaeklock, Small, Hamel, M'Kinnon, and Arklc. ■ ' Tho Standing Committee recommended that the_ rate be raised to Is in tho sowerod and 6d 111 the unsowered areas respectively. This increase of Id and id in the £ respectively will return approximately £2800, and will thus turn tho estimated deficiency 011 thu present rate to an estimated surplus of £833 ss. '

Mr Hamel said ho was entirely opposed to an alteration in the rates, in the dying hours of the board. , While the war was on they should be careful about allowing anything in regard to taxation on the people'. The boaru should have set its house, in order long ago,, and not in its dying hours. Ho moved an amendment that the rates be as heretofore—lid for sowerod and s£d for the unsewered area. ,

Mr Kellett said he was thoroughly in accordance with the remarks made by Mr Hilmel. The two reasons advanced were sufficient to his mind for not increasing the rates.

Mr Whit.o said lie was entirely opposed to any increase being made at present. It was agreed to approve of the report, with tho exception of the clause dealing with rating.

Mr Shaeklock said the Standing Committee ha'd had before it a minuto by tlfe secrotary, and that had had a groat deal to do with tho recommendation that the rates be increased. He thought tho rates should be raised to the full rating power of the board. That would bring in an additional revenue of .approximately £2800.. ,Mr Hamel-repeated that he would move his motion as to tho rates remaining as they were, and this was seconded by Mr Kellett. Mr M'Kinnon said ho wished to speak against the motion. He thought it was a very important matter. They were passing over to the City, Councils a position that was unsound. The rating should have been at least id more than it had been. They wanted to hand over to the City Council a position that was in a measure sound, and their only course was to raise the rates to the limit..

Mr Whito; said Mr M'Kinnon had stated that the position of the board was unsound, but when the rates had been fixed last year he had allowed it. If the policy of the board had been a bad ono in the past—and it appeared provision had not been made for a sinking fund—tho board had made a great mistake in not seeing that tho rates were made commensurate with requirements. Now in tho dying moments of the board it was proposed to bring in a resolution that the rates should bo increased. There was no necessity for the board to make an increase at the present time when it was passing over to the City Council. He strongly objected to an increase because ha felt, there was 110 necessity for it. Mr Arklo said that there was not tho slightest doubt they wanted a shilling rate, but so far as policy was concerned lie thought it. would be foolish to raise the rate. Let the City Council have the honour and glory of raising the rate. Mr Small said that from what ho saw at the meetings of tho Finance Committee of tho City Council a great many of the ratepayers were at their ratepaying limit. They got at each meeting piteous appeals to holcl over tho collection of rates, and in a great many instances they did so. Tho drainage scheme had developed considerably, and the feeling was that, on account cf that development, it would be prudent, and considerate towards the ratepayers, to apply the rate very gradually. That had been tho main reason for not imposing a higher rate tjian had been imposed. It was thought that the question of raising tho rato should be loft to tho City Council.

The motion was carricd, Mr M'Kinnon dissenting.