Non-Liability of Crown for Rates

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 107, 29 September 1947, Page 4

Non-Liability of Crown for Rates

INQUIRY TO BE MADE ' STATEMENT BY MINISTER At the September meeting of. the Cambridge Borough Council mention was made by Mr S. Lewis of the fact that unoccupied Crown lands were exempt from rating, thus resulting in a loss to local bodies. Mr Lewis said that the passing of land to the Crown made them invaluable until houses were built on them. If a became untenanted or was- burnt down the payment of rates stopped. This was different to private land, where the owner was always liable for rates. This matter has since been considered by the Minister of Finance, Mr W. Nash, following a request by Dr Finlay, Member for North Shore, that some relief be given to local bodies whose revenues were prejudicially affected by the presence within their boundaries of large areas of noni rateable Crown lands. Dr Finlay quoted Devonport, where the Borough was seriously affected, with *l4 per cent of the total land owned by the Crown.' In replying, Mr Nash stated that he would be pleased to arrange for an inquiry into the non-liability for the payment of rates by the Crown, tho benefits accruing to local authorities and ownership of land within local body boundaries, and the general financial assistance for the central government to local authorities, together with their non-liability for general taxation. ;