URBAN FARM LANDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17947, 26 November 1932, Page 5

URBAN FARM LANDS

RATING RELIEF BILL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED INCR.EA SED ELASTICIT Y (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. As a result of tho conference with representatives of the Municipal Association, tho Hon. A. Hamilton has drawn up a number of amendments to the Urban Farm Land Rating Bill, the committee stage of which will be taken by tho House on Tuesday.

Some of tho amendments are of a (purely technical nature. Others are for the purpose of giving the legislation more elasticity. In order to make it clear that only genuine farm land comes within the scope of the bill, tho definition of urban farm land has been extended, and it is now laid down that such land must bo held by a person whoso income, or a substantial part of it, is derived from the use of tho land, it is also proposed to give boroughs tho right to use their discretion as to whether farm lands under the bill are entitled to special rateable values. it has been represented to the Minister that in some boroughs the incidence of rating may be such that no urban farm lands are entitled to relief, but under the bill as it stands a council would have to go through the process of considering each case and forming a farm land roll. This will he obviated by an amendment which will make it necessary for a farmer to establish a reasonable case before setting the machinery of the Act into motion. A borough council’s decision is subject to the right of appeal, so that a property owner is safeguarded. LESS NOTICE REQUIRED Amendments are also being made to meet the case of borough councils which assess certain rates on a different system from that mainly operating in the borough. For example, a borough may rate on unimproved value, but the amount of water rates that are collected from the borough are assessed by reference to the annual value.

The bill as it now stands gives borough councils a period of three months grace in connection with an application from an occupier of farm lands for tho preparation of a farm list. That is to say, if an applicant wishes to have the benefit of a reduction over a particular years’ rating, he has to apply before December 31.

Representatives of the Municipal Association, states tho Minister, recognise that this provision is in favor of borough councils, but they have conceded that councils should forgo such an advantage. Accordingly, it lias been suggested that so lopg as an application is in before the end of the financial year, tho benefits of relief will he available for tlie succeeding year.