RATING ACT AMENDMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12584, 14 October 1911, Page 5

RATING ACT AMENDMENT.

FOR UNIFORM SYSTEM

(From our Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day. The Rating Act Amendment Bill, which provides for more uniformity m the system of rating by local authorities, was read a second time last night. v Tlie Minister m charge (the Hon. Mr aßuddo) explained that it was meant to remove an anomaly m the system of rating by local bodies on unimproved values.

Mr Wilford expressed the opinion that m sub-section 2 of clause 2, dealing with the question of taking polls for the adoption of the system, the permissive "imay" should be replaced by the mandatory "shall." He considered the rate r payers should m every instance. have the opportunity of saying whether or .not ;Stich a scheme should" be brought into operation, . . •Sir Joseph Ward pointed, out that the v?hole Bill was practically . permissive. ('Members: Hear, hear.) "I introduced the Bill for an unimproved rating system some, years ago, and it was for several years openly opposed," added the Prime Minister, who moved that the word "may" required to be substituted by "shall." The people could thus .take ai vote as to whether they would have tp rate for lighting, water, sewage, ef,c, brought under the unimproved value system where they had already adopted the unimproved system for the ordinary rates of the borough. "I believe," declared the Premier, "that it would be better if we had uniformity of system throughout the boroughs, of tjie country. This measure is m keep, iug with the system I mentioned as having been contested so .stubbornly for some years/" •