COUNTY RATE REBATES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18545, 3 November 1934, Page 4

COUNTY RATE REBATES

FINANCE BILL PROVISION COOK COUNTY’S POSITION The provision in the Finance Rill (No. 5) at present before the House of Representatives for 12| per cent, rebate on rates paid on behalf of county lands has not come as a surprise to those who have been following the position closely. County councils had been battling hard for the concession, in view of the plight of the dairy farmers, and there were reasons to believe that success would meet their efforts. Three years ago, when the same concession was given rural ratepayers, the action was taken in view of the serious position of sheepfarmers resulting from, extremely low prices for frozen meat and wool. Dairyfarmers, then, were not nearly so badly hit, but it was impossible'to exclude them from the benefits of the rebate. Now the position is reversed, the dairyfarmer suffering while the sheep man is comparatively well off, it will he impossible to differentiate 'between the two classes of farmers. A provision in the bill, however, is that the rebate will apply only to land used for pastoral or horticultural purposes. 'That will eliminate all but farmers, and business premises will not secure anyi benefit'.

When the last rebates were made, county councils received something more than the 121, per cent, on current rates. Tho payments made to individual county councils were based on rates collected during a previous year when the total was much higher than in the year the subsidy was granted. The result was that after crediting ratepayers, who made their payments,with the per cent, rebate, the Cook County Council had a certain amount, left over, which the Minister ordered should be placed in a special account and drawn on only with his consent.

Reviewing this position to-day, the Cook County clerk, Mi'. F. T. Robinson, said that this money was still held in a special fund by the council, but it, had been decided to make application to the Minister for its use during the coming financial year, during which, it was also hoped, the 12J per cent, rebate would be available. By the use of the existing fund and the expected rebate, ratepayers should receive a worth-while benefit.