CITY RATES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17418, 31 March 1922, Page 6

CITY RATES.

amount outstanding. Up to till© closing of the city rate collector's office yesterday, the total amount of the current year's rates received was £171,737, which left £41,844 still outstanding. According to a decision arrived at by the Council, all rates not paid to-day will be sued for. In expectation of a rush of ratepayers to Jay to discharge their obligations, special arrangements wiill bo made at the rate collector's office to expedite the business of receiving the money and handing out receipts. The office will be open . continuously throughout the day from 8.30 a.m. There will bo no closing time' for Hiie luncheon interval, and the office will not shut in the afternoon until nil ratepayers in attendance have completed their business. Not until the last ratepayer hftfl left will the doors close. The staff will be augmented, and provided the ratepayers come along in a steady stream, instead of in big battalions witu dead intervals there will be no delay in handling the business. The Ten Per Cent. Penalty. A number of ratepayers seem to be in doubt as to vftet'iier tho 10 per cent, penalty will be added to the amount of their rates if they do not pay by March 3lst. The position is that tho 10 per cent, cannot bo added until six months and fourteen days have expired from the date- of the demand. The Council, however, have decided, -and have advertised that decision, tlnat rates unpaid by March 31st will be sued for, but the amount claimed on such legal proceedings will not include any penalty, for such will not become recoverable until May next. A ratepayer who defers payment until the point of expiry of the period of grace mav bo sued, but if h© is sued before the completion of that period he will not be required to pay the 10 per cent, impost, but will be mulcted in Court costs. Should, however L lie postpone payment until the period has expiredj hi/5 rates will Iw automatically increased by 10 per cent, and should ne then be sued, the claim will be for tho rates plus 10 per cent, penalty. Should he pay without being sued after the period has expired, the 10 per cent, penalty will still fce added.

The imposition of the 10 per oent. penalty rests with the Council. Statutory power is given to claim that penalty after six months and fourteen days have expired from the date of tho demand, provided the Council by formal resolution so decides, and publishes that decision. The Council have complied with all formalities. A formal resolution ji as been adopted imposing the 10 per cent, penalty at the expiration of the stated period, and that resolution has been publicly notified by iidvertieement. TTie 10 per oent. penalty irill therefore automatically accrue and become recoverable on the expiration of the period named.