RURAL LANDS

Southland Times, Issue 20540, 17 July 1928, Page 7

RURAL LANDS

RATING METHODS. COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. (Per United Press Association.) Feilding, July 16. The Commission (Mr R. M. Watson, S.M., Mr Strand, the Mayor of Hutt, and Mr W. Nash, of Wellington) appointed to go into the question of the rating of rural lands in boroughs opened to-day, Feilding being taken as a typical base. Various local ratepayers owning farming areas appeared to give evidence. The Municipal Association was represented by Mr Rogers (Mayor of Wanganui), and Mr Treadwell, solicitor. The principal statement made to-day was by Mr Thomas Brook, Valuer-General, who referred generally to boroughs containing rural lands. There was a great deal of dissatisfaction in cases where farm lands had been excluded from boroughs. The ratepayers were not satisfied as they were unrelieved by the special rates struck for loans by the borough concerned. Mr. Brook said the present system was unjust and the problem was to find a remedy. His opinion was that where areas did not receive the benefit of those services for which the loans were obtained, they should not be required to pay the special rates levied. Differentiation is necessary if justice is to be done. In some boroughs farmers were not receiving the benefits of essential*services atlhough they were the biggest ratepayers. There should be a basis of classification. He recommended the assessors to classify properties according to practical uses for rating purposes. The commission resumes to-morrow.