Oroua County Ratepayers

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 36, 12 February 1937, Page 3

Oroua County Ratepayers

OUTSTANDING RATES. Discussing the finances of the council at yesterday’s meeting of the Oroua County Council the chairman (Cr. A. Campbell) said that while the position was quite satisfactory, the amount of rates outstanding on account of the current year, £IUIS, was altogether too great. In some measure ho considered that this was possibly due to ratepayers holding back their payments in anticipation of the Government authorising the payment of the 12J per cent, rebate which, however, would not bo forthcoming this year. Ho certainly considered that steps should bo taken immediately to recover the arrears outstanding for the two previous years. Councillors spent some time discussing the best method of impressing on ratepayers their obligation to meet the rate demands. Some suggested that reminders should be posted beforo the 10 por cent, penalty operated, but the county clerk (Mr R. L. Harding) stated that this practice was followed by way of advertisement in tho press. Ample publicity was always given to tho upproaching date when tho penalty would operato and generally there appeared to be little excuse for failure to pay beforo due date. It was pointed out that the uoticos indicated that the rates were due within l’oureen days of demand and that ! ratepayers were aware of th f. However, they took full advantage of the statutory provision which gave six months’ grace before the 10 per cent, penalty could operate but in many cases this did not appear to be sufficient. It was, in the opinion of the councillor altogether too long a period and the chairman was inclined to the opinion that the system could be altered with profit by fixing at 5 per cent, penalty to operate after, say, three months and then add the other 5 per cent, following the remaining three mouths. Tho council agreed to authorise the office to take steps to recover the rate, arrears on account of previous years which totalled £691.