OWAKA REST HOUSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 17

OWAKA REST HOUSE.

REMISSION OF RATES. At the monthly meeting of the Clutha County Council on Tuesday an application was received from Mr John Wilkinson, trustee in the estate of the late Mr Wm. Chalmers, of Owaka, asking for the remission of the rates on the land at Quakerfleld, Owaka, on which a rest-house had been built for the convenlnece of the women and children of the district. He submitted that it was a charitable institution, and as such Bhould be exempted from rating under section 2of the Rating Act, 1925. It was now subsidised by public funds, and was to be carried on purely for the relief of needy women and children visiting Owaka and requiring rest and convenlneces. Cr Maginness said he was not in favour of remitting any rates. The attitude of the trustee. (Mr Wilkinson) had not been popular in Owaka. He had spent £2OOO on the resthouse, but half that amount would have been sufficient for a building that would have served the purpose quite well, and something would then have been in hand for upkeep. Now they would have to appeal to the public. It was not a charitable institution at all, having been erected from funds left by a local settler. There had been an opening ceremony, but It was not a public one. Mr Wilkinson, the speaker sttted. had supplied a report of the opening to the Bad* clutha papers, and when a reporter attended he had been ordered out. This institution, the speaker maintained, was not a public one at all, and was liable to be rated just like any other private property. A very much less elaborate building would have served the purpose. * Very stringent rules had been drawn up by the trustee for the conduct of the institution, here were also rules making charges for services and use of conveniences that showed it was designed to be self-supporting. He would move that the request be refused. The motion was seconded by Cr Wilson, and carried without dissent.