The Waipa Post. Printed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1926. RATING SYSTEMS.

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1929, 2 November 1926, Page 4

The Waipa Post. Printed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1926. RATING SYSTEMS.

OF arguments upon the subject of which system of rating is best suited to Te Awamutu there has been a multitude—good, bad, and indifferent. Indeed, 'there is some ground for the statement that some of the arguments have been more heated than convincing;';. The chief protagonists on each side—that is, those who favour rating on the existing capital values basis and those who are seeking a change to rating on unimproved values —have been devoting quite a lot of time and verbiage to expounding their particular form of rating, and it can be said that it.has been a repetition of the old adage (adapted): " Convince a man against his will, and he's of the same opinion still." It/appears to be admitted that there will, if the new basis finds most favour at the poll to-morrow, have to be a fresh valuation of the whole borough, and, that, being so, that most if not all of the lands of the borough not at present built upon will be valued at a somewhat' higher figure—small, maybe, but. higher. It is equally true that the larger landowners will have to bear the chief burden, and this fact will be a determining consideration

among many when recording their

votes. Apart from the individual standpoint, too much thought cannot he hestowed by the voters upon the broader influences which their decision will have on the future of Te Awamutu. The theory of property sub-divisions-even if it proves true—must in the end regulate according to the demand, which is not likely to come instantaneously . If properties flood the market transfers can eventuate only as the purchasers offer themselves, and it is certain that in the process of readjustment the vendors would not be likely to stand in support of any new municipal enterprises which involved the raising of loans and bring resultant increases in the rating responsibilities. Until the period of transition had passed municipal enterprises, apart from the loans already authorised by the ratepayers, would perhaps he at a comparative standstill. Many ratepayers would welcome such a mark-time policy, for in the past decade the public indebtedness has leaped forward very appreciably, until now Te Awamutu is regarded by many as too heavily rated. True, it has public utilities as the quid pro quo for such expenditure and taxation, even though there are critics who aver that very much better value could have been secured for the outlay. But there will always be critics.

To the average citizen the leading consideration will be the monetary saving, if any, resulting from the change. Every ratepayer can easily compute what sum would be payable to the local authority after having regard to the fact that the rating basi-i would be increased from, say, 3d in the £ to 6d, or even 9d in the £.' It necessarily follows that, with the exemption of improvements, and a consequent reduction of ratable value, the rate basis must increase, and in order to return an equal sum to its revenue account the local authority would be compelled to strike a commensurate rate.

There are some who erroneously believe that the change of system means only the exemption of improvements from taxation. It is wise to recollect that the local authority must, receive, either on the basis of capital or unimproved values, a certain revenue, and that a lessening in the volume of taxable property on the one hand must bring an increase in the rate factor on the other.

After having assessed the personal responsibility from the monetary point ov view, every voter needs must consider the question in its broader application. Is, it a good thing for the town, and will its operation make fdr greater solidarity in municipal and public advancement? Selfish motives should be eliminated, and only that decision which secures the greatest good for the greatest number be sought. With that in mind every ratepayer who possibly can attend should be at the polling booth to-morrow (Wednesday) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., to record his or her vote intelligently. Two well-known public men from Auckland have recently come to Te Awamutu and placed arguments for each side of the case clearly and concisely before , the ratepayers, and surely now , those same ratepayers have had material enough before them to assist any waverers to vote intelligently? We hope so.