RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10403, 17 July 1912, Page 5

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

SIR,—In ■ his,;, letter of_ Saturday your correspondent (Me 'l l '. it. H. Brice) adduces no new argument beyond the statement that “it is the dwelling-hoase section that necessitates the installation of water; and sewerage and gas, also the upkeep of our roads aad streets worn'with tha constant call of butchers, bakers, grocers and numerous others. ” Yes, it is the dwellinghoose (or rather the collection of dwellisig-hotsEea and shops) that makes our town, but it is the “idle, harmless section' that occasions more miles of roads footpaths, gas and water mains. The dwelling-house occupier uses the gas and pays for those extra mains in his gas bill 5 he also pays for the extra reading, footpaths and water mains In his rates, But it is scarcely worth while pointing oat this to a correspondent, who oa Tharsday writes The vacant land is penalised enough under the present system, when yoi come to allow Interest and rates on the same” ; and on Saturday saysl contend that under tola-system.'(he., the present system) no one is penalised ” 'With regard to your correspondent's letter in yesterday’s issue, I have only to say that ratepayers, if unfairly assessed by the Government Valuer, would have the same right of objeotina as they have at present, and that, too, without questioning the 0 mialstrative acts of a borough officer Yoni conespowdent refers us to Mr David Jooe>’ remarks reposted. i» your issue of Monday, but I And him, although strongly questioning the actual assessment of the ua- ' Improved value in a particnlsr case, to be In,'favour, of She , of rating on the unimproved value, hJa complaint being that improvements ere taxed or as Mr Jooee pula it, “The Slate robs the farmer of over £SOOO, ’■ etc. •In the intemperate lai guags of Mr Jones, the borough robs the owner of money laid out in building and improvements.—l am, etc., ’ ■ ' C B, GOLDINS.