Unusually fine weather augured well for the meeting from the outset. As on the previous occasion foreign ratepayers almost without exception occupied the side of the public stand nearest t0 the exit, Voting enclosures were provided on both sides of the officials' platform with six tables, while voting tickets of those particlpating In the ballots wore scrutinized by the following tellers: Messrs. W. 'A. Adams, J, A, Anderson, W. A 'Anderson, 'Shugo' Ban, B.S. Barraclough, Hi, Berents, F:.L. Brinkman, A Brondal, P. if. Dunbar, A. Fenton, Chev, Uf, C. Fumagalli, A: J. Hickmott," Teizo Horiba, J.' M. Hykes, N, B, Kent, Kiyosh Kobaya~ shi, PIP. Kops, G. C, Lacy, Marden, Shigeo Miyoshi, 8, Okajima and C, ©. Whitehead.
When Mr. Hayashi's amendment calling for an abandonment of the Councit's levies went to the polls the "Against" sections of the two enclo., sures were filled to capacity while, the "For" sections were almost empty and it was a foregone conclusion before the votes were counted that the amendment had suffered defeat, This Was fully borne out when the Chair= man of the meeting later announced that there were only five voters. in favour of the amendment against 7,085.
The first amendment (Amendment: to Resolution 11) of the Council for the levying of 40 per cent. surcharges was val first keenly voted by a showing of hands which appeared to be even on both sides causing some embarrassment {o" the chairman of the meeting. A solution who presented promptly when a rates ayer proposed that this amendment should go to the polls. After this Atler Mr. Scheel had opened the meeting Mr. E. A. Long, Secretary to the Consular Body explained the polling procedure, The polling occupied some time and after the ratepayers who participated had resumed their seats the results were nounced by Mr, Sheol. They caused ho surprise being evident from the trend of the polling. The amendment proposed by Mr. Hayashi. seconded by Mr. C. Fukuda read "That the S.C. enforce further economies and study fundamentally the possibilities for revising the pre: sent fax system s0 that a more equity able system may be applied, based fon fair distribution of the burden in proportion to individual ability to Pay from among the general public. instead of as at present where re-verite derives mainly from Land Tax and the General Municipal Rate: that until this system can be realized. the deft in revenue be met by The following amendment to Re: solution LI proposed by Mr. Little was then dealt with: "That there be added to Resolution It the following words: And that the assessed value of all owner-occupied property that has not yet been re-assessed since 1997 Be increased as from January 1. 1941, by 40 per cent. pending exact Ferassessment by the Committee now working and that tenants assessments for the purpose of taxation be restricted 10 40 per cent. increase over the 1937 assessment and that the Council be authorized at their dis cretion to Impose a substantial surcharge on undeveloped land tax." The resolution was seconded by Mr. V. M. Allington who did not address the meeting.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.