Recovery of Rates.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 29 July 1890, Page 2

Recovery of Rates.

* ♦ During the session of Parliament in 1888 a short Act to amend the Eating Arts was passed. It's most interesting clause as far as this district is concerned, is it r s last, wherein power is given to the Couucil of any B >rough. Ivy malrins; a special order, to resolve that sections twe.ity two to fifty one of " The Rating * cfc 1882" with its ame'dnients, shall apply to the recovery of rates due to such Borough. 11 The Ratin? Act 1882 " declares at its commpneem >nt that "it shal not he lawful for any local b idy after the 31. -t March 1883 to make any rate except under the provisions of this Act, but in its last clause especially dec'nies that this Act " shall not ho deemed to >>ein force in such Boroughs (estab ishe-1 under any Act relating to Municipa 1 Corporations) or with reference to valuation rolls or the making levying or recovering of their ra'es." The Act unM 1 which all B r Highs work for such purposes is " The Hat ing Act 187G"und there having ly en this special pro vis on made to permit Boroughs to use the n<u. r \ct of 1882, it pointed to there being s raft advantage to them in so doing "W« have there 'ore compared the difference between thr? ways laid down to secure recovery of rates by either process, and are of the opinion that the later Act undoubtedly make* much lighter work for tbr Corporation. We cannot undertake the review of all the clauses, Imt will instance a fpw dissimi arities. The Act oflB7G makes it imperative that upon the occupier making de'aulfc in payment of rates, unless he does po only within three months after the r.;te has become due, if he has no eoods on which distress could be levied, gets ,'iwny free, as to secure th» amount from the owner the rate must have been demanded of him within fmr months of it being due. Tins makes it pos si le for the Borough to lose a considerable amount, or elso to act v ry sharply in collecting the rates. The 18 >2 Act makes the occupier who-e name is the rate ro I primari y 1 able for all rates but that •• any rate or part thereof due by an occupier may also at the option of the local body or of any person authorised to collect rates as aforesaid, be recovered from the cwner or from any pprs-'Mi owning any interest in the rateable property." Of course the owner is j.rotectal as agunst the occupier. The question of liability is thus simplified. Again where the owner of a property is not known, most cumbrous dealings have to be taken under the 1876 Act by the Borough, even to the selling or leasing of it ; and the time is spun out to eighteen months. Thus aftpr a judgement has been given against an •' owner" the Horough wou'd liavn to wait six months, anl aftsr that to give twelve months notice to sell or leas©. In the I*B2 Act if the judgement is not satisfied within six in -nth* the Borough «ives notice to the Registrar of the Supreme ''ourl; who at on t gives notict that he will sell or It fine in six monthf time, tfhero h » ile»r «v*ng of

six months, and the Borough after giving no ico to the Registrar is re lieved oi further responsibility. We think that there is an adVAn 1 fugs to be gained by the adoption of these clauses of die 1882 Ace, aiid the matter is wvll woriiiy of the coir fiidft;-ition df ouv Borotigli Oonnfjiiidrs: