RATES OVERDUE

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3304, 2 June 1931, Page 4

RATES OVERDUE

YOUNG MEN’S INSTITUTE PROPERTY. DEPUTATION TO BOROUGH COUNCIL. A deputation representing Young Men’s Institute, Messrs J. Fleming (president), J. Oliphant, S. Preston and C. A. Reilly, waited on the Borough Council on Monday evening in respect to the rates owing by the Institute or. its*section in Market Street. '' '

Mr Preston briefly traversed the history of the Institute since its inception in 1910, and said the rates that have aggregated in recent years totalled_a little over £IOO. Two years ago £25 was paid to the Council as rates, but last year the Institute’s' 1 funds were not buoyant .to make any payment. The Institute is a very live i? od y> doing good work for the benefit oi the young men of the town and neighbourhood, and was headed by men of repute who were giving much me ri and thought to its affairs. If the Council pressed for payment of the rates due, it would be necessary to sell the section; but the times are bad just now for such a sale, and thus the property would probably be sacrificed. He said the Institute desired to sell as soon as a reasonable price was offered, and the money so obtained would be used to purchase a less expensive section on which a building could be erected for Institute purposes. The youth of the community should be assisted in its recreation. Other sports bodies were in much better position. He suggested that the Council write off the arrears of rates and consider from time to time the remission of rates annually; this in view of the useful work done for the youth of the community. Mr Preston added that he had brought along the Institute’s balance sheets to show that when funds were available an effort was made to reduce the rate liability. He mentioned sev-. eral townsmen who were giving the! Institute valuable help. Last year the three public tournaments held had resulted in loss; this year a professional bout was staged, in deference to the expressed wish of many people, but this also resulted in loss. The innqvation would, thought, not be repeated. The Institute is conducted in a wonderfully efficient manner, with probably the finest boxing coach in the whole Dominion. It would be regrettable indeed if the Institute were to be forced to wind up. Mr Oliphant fully supported the previous speaker, and added that the Council had power to remit the rates. The Institute was not conducted for private profit or gain. If the Council acceded to the representations made, he suggested that the Council could appoint one of its members to a seat on the Institute’s executive.

Mr Reilly stressed the point that the first time in the Institute’s history that money was available it had paid the rates. That was an earnest of the executive’s attitude of meeting its obligations whenever possible. The Institute had not canvassed for funds as was an almost universal among similar sporting and recreaq tive bodies, and therefore it felt justified in asking the Council to be lenient.

Mr Fleming mentioned that whenever teams of local boxers competed at championship meetings the cost was almost entirely met by the competitors themselves and the N.Z. Boxing Association.

To the Mayor, Mr Preston gave details of membership in recent years and the chief items of expenditure. He then handed in copies for fuller consideration by the Council. The Mayor said the representations would be considered by the Legal and Finance Committee, and the Institute’s deputation would be advised later. Mr Fleming thanked the Council for its hearing, and the deputation withdrew.