RATING IN MOSGIEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26772, 15 May 1948, Page 9

RATING IN MOSGIEL

Sir, —Mr Hartstonge adopts a very altruistic attitude In his comments regarding my criticism of his remarks at the Municipal Conference. I suppose it is only natural for a poor ordinary mortal like me to squeal now and again at his rates. I admit that there are many others here who are as much entitled to squeal as I am, and many of them do. Mr Hartstonge and I occupy properties of almost identical capital value, there being a difference of about £125 in favour of mine. When the rates were assessed last year I was asked, and evidently expected cheerfully to pay, an amount almost seven times as great as that of his. An inspection of the rate book by anyone interested will confirm this. He gets all the amenities of a civilised community. I get next to nothing. I was always under the impression, and I think most people will agree with me, that rates are levied to provide services for the land they are levied on. Mr Hartstonge evidently thinks otherwise.—l am, etc., F. It. 11. Hall. Mosgiel. [The Mayor of Mosgiel, Mr Hartstonge, replies: "Mr Hall must know that the system of rating in force in Mosgiel is the unimproved, and that any comparisons which are n ade on any other basis are misleading. If he made his comparison on the basis of the system actually in force he would find that he receives rather favoured treatment by way of a reduction in his rates of over 40 per cent, at the expense of the general body of ratepayers of Mosgiel. In addition, he much overstates the rates which are actually paid by him. The system of rating is decided not by the council, but by the ratepayers, who alone can effect a change. The burden of his complaint appears to be that the system or rating is wrong in that under it his rates are too, high. If so, the remedy is in his own hands to move for an alteration to such of the systems prescribed by law as would best suit him." This correspondence must now cease.—Ed O.D.T.]