EXEMPT FROM RATES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16434, 24 May 1921, Page 5

EXEMPT FROM RATES.

PROPERTY IN THE CITY. Property worth £1,130,049, capital value and £41(3,565. unimproved value, is exempt from rating in Christchurch. This represents in. general rate £oUUi per annum, and. according to a report read at last evening’s meeting ut the City Council, the loss is growing greater every year. ~ 'j'h© Finance Committee stated: — Canterbury College has recently acquired another valuable property on Papanui Road and twelve acres of land in Op-air a, which will become exempt from rating. Tills continued growth in exempted properties is a very seribus matter for tho city and the committee considers that these properties should be exempted from general rate only and should pay rates for those services for which rates are specialty levied, such as - Hospital and Charitable. Aid Board, Domains Board, Drainage ißoard and special loan rates. These rates would represent another £SOOO or £6OOO per annum on the exempted propertiesTho committee recommends that a remit be sent to the Municipal Association asking it to submit to the next conference a proposal to amend the Rating Act to provide that exempted properties should be exempted from the general rate only and should pay all other rates; the proposed amendment not to apply to properties used exclusively for religious worship.” The committee reported that a fresh •application from the Lancaster Park Board of Control for remission of rates on Lancaster Park had been refused, owing to the state of public finances-