COUNTY MAY LOSE OVER £2,000.

Otaki Mail, 17 May 1922, Page 2

COUNTY MAY LOSE OVER £2,000.

IF OVERDUE KATE;? ARE NUT PAID

In announcing at the Horowhenua County Council meeting on Saturday that the annua! meeting would taks place on Wednesday, May ii, the County Clerk (Mr p. \v. Goldsmith) referred briefly to the county finances. tie said it was very important that the Council should get in the balance of r utes due by the end of .lune in oi.ier that these monies should earn the Government subsidy. If any rates remained unpaid then the subsidv. the maximum amount of which was £t>3oo, would be iost, and could nevei be regained. Mr Goldsmith went on to say that tit March :it, over £300(1 oi general rates were owing, in audition to £SOO or £6OO oi special rates. but the general rates were the most important, as they carried the subsidy. l'hese rates must therefore be secured by the Council. lie would forecast his annual report to the extent ol saying that the Council would wind up the year with a £9OOO debit. That would be their antecedent liability, tor the liquidation of which they were empowered by the Ac; to bnrro'w. OI 'lns amount C2OOO was it, hand, and the balance, £7OOO, would be divided up in proportion to the amount owing by the various ridings. Wirokinu had the largest, debt, £SOOO, but it had considerable assets, including jam n loans, which wuuld come back, also a portion of general rates. Cr. Monk, chairman, stated that the io pet cent penalty on unpaid rates had been postponed from February till the end ~i March, hut it had nothing to do with the amount of rates owing. Their position was such that they must not lose any portion of the subsidy, if at all possible. Though their debt oi eyoOO looked big. if the rates had come in, and allowance made tor the purchase of the engineer's house, lorry and engine, he believed the Council would have come .nit with :i clear, sheet. In reply to r,r. Rrondbelf. the chairman said the In per cent penalty on overdue tates was in operation. v