"PUTTING THE BOOT IN"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 269, 10 February 1941, Page 5

"PUTTING THE BOOT IN"

PENALTY ON RATES

OPINION OF COUNTY

COUNCILLOR

That the levying of ten per

cent on rates unpaid by a certain date was "putting in the boot"—grossly unfair to those un able to meet temporarily their obligation to the county, is the opinion of Councillor 11. C. McCreadyy and at the last meeting of the County Council he expressed his views in no uncertain manner. He opposed strongly] the imposition of the ten per cent penalty, which was the general practice, stating that the system used in regard to bank overdrafts- should be adopted where a man temporarily embarrassed could save himself extra payment by meeting the demands of the council as soon as he possibly could. Gr McCroady quoted figures to show that an imposition of £42 could be made on a man owing £200. This was brought about by the penalty and the Government tax.

"The farmer gets the boot from every section of the community, and at least farmers should be charitable to farmers," added Cr McCready when moving that a recommendation be made to the Counties' Association that, the system used in banking be adopted. Cr McCready described the penalty as in practice as a "wicked imposition" and "absolute lunacy."

rC Cawte seconded Cr McCrcady's motion stating that he did so that the matter could be investigated and a more fair solution to the difficulty of collecting rates arrived at.

That the system in use was adopted throughout the Dominion was the opinion of Cr Wardlaw, who added that to work on the banking system would offer no more inducement to the defaulter ;?nd the county should induce ratepayers to< "come fast" with their payments.

Cr MeGoug.-in agreed that the system was hard on the men who- temporarily could not pay, but the idea behind the imposition of the penalty was to press those who could to pay. There were, he said, plenty of men who could pay but would not. Tt was hard on the man who might overlook paying his rates and then have to pay the full penalty and the suggestion of Cr McCready was alright, and, he concluded, in the case of the "poor beggar" who coukl not meet the demands the Council should endeavour to help him.

Cr McCready pointed out that the imposition could amount to a rate of 300 per cent and then, having made a man pay more because hfc was not on time with his payment, the council barred him from voting.

It was finally decided to forward a recommendation to the Counties'

Association suggesting that counties be allowed to charge interest on overdue rates on the basis of daily interest of ten per cent.