SPIRIT OF THAMES

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1932, Page 7

SPIRIT OF THAMES

RESPONSE TO APPEAL. COMMISSIONER’S PRAISE. Thames, December 10. As the result of an . appeal made by the Thames Commissioner, Mr. C. L. Grange, more rates have been paid during 1932 than in previous years. Asked if many property owners were taking advantage of a clause in the Rating Act which gave power, when valuations were disputed, to place their own valuations on the land—the Government to take it over at the price stated in the event of reduction not being made—Mr. Grange said the position was no different in Thames than elsewhere, “There has been a certain number of cases,” he said, “but in no instance has a ridiculous price been placed on a property. In all parts of New Zealand vacant town sections are a responsibility to the owners, and there have been instances where the Government has been requested to take over the property to relieve the owner of rate responsibilityAs far as my recollection goes, there has been no case where t a section has been valued by the owner at less than £5O. That would be for' a piece of land that in normal times would be worth, say, £l5O. In such cases the values for rating purposes have had to be reduced accordingly. “The real old mining spirit is being displayed in the town,” he continued. “The appeal to the people to pay their rates has met with a response that has been astonishing. I cannot speak too highly of the spirit of the mole.” —