Inquiry 1945

The City Council appointed an independent committee of inquiry to examine complaints that there were inequities requiring attention. The committee reported in that the complaints were not justified and the majority recommended that no change should be made. This recommendation was adopted by the City Council. In its report to the Municipal Council the Independent Committee stated: Opposition to this site value taxation was, in some cases, inspired by the belief that it favoured the rich and was to the detriment of the poor...There are numerous properties in the city paying assessment rates on sites valued at tens of thousands of pounds. There is therefore, no justification for the claim that the taxation of site values favours the rich. On the contrary each class pays rates on proportion to the extent to which he uses the land and the contribution of the rich are, to considerable extent, expended...for amenities used almost exclusively by the areas within the municipality occupied by the so-called working classes.