RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10400, 13 July 1912, Page 5

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE.

SIR,—I am sorry tbst it Is the high rateable value that onr Borough Vainer imposes upon those that are o&ielass enough not to object to the assessment that misled Mr ColLns and bis ouiieagues to form the values as they did of the sectious In Hnnia Street Mr Hollins In the course of his .letter refers to our present system of rating and asks who is the person penalised., the man who owns the idle sections and pay rates of 11s, or the man who owns the adjoining section with a dwelling and pays rates of £4 2b 6d. 1 contend that under this system no one is penalised, and it Is a proper and fair system and is as it should be The unimproved value as advocated by Mr Oollins and h?s colleagues is unfair, as the idle section owner would be asked to pay toe same rates as-;'the dwelling section owner. It appears to me. and do doubt it wil! to all unbiased and unselfish persons, "that it 1* an erroneous principle to expect the idle harmless section that lies praying for an oconpier and sustaining a lire by doing so, as pointed onl in my previous letter, "topay the same rates as the neighbouring section that is flourishing with a nice bouse and beautiful lawn and gardens and with all the conveniences that the Borough and its f business'people can give it. It is the dwelling bouse section that necessitates the installation of water, and sewerage and gas, also the upkeep of our roads and streets worn with the constant call of butchers, grocers and numerous others. “In also finds rest for the bnsy man to plotjiis schemes to make fortunes and consequently with these charges makes cur rates as they are to-day and which in" proportion, under onr present system is rightly {paid by the idle section.—l am, etc., F. R. H. ERIOB. Marton, July 13th.