ABSENTEE OWNERS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 48, 22 June 1915, Page 1

ABSENTEE OWNERS.

County Council's Difficulty.

At the Ftkekohe Magistrate's Court on Thursday last a batch of 162 summonses taken out by the Franklin County Council against owners of vaiious sections in the Mercer riding was dealt with, the Magistrate, Mr F. V. Frazer, having authorised notification of hearing by means of advt. in the "limes'' in lieu of persons! <ervicc. the whereabouts of the defendants being unknown.

At the previous Court, it will Le remembered, Mr A. Kanna, who appeared for the County Council. mentioned in applying i'or the summonses that the Council sought to recover the rates i'or the two years ending March 31st last, and he urged tbat although the Hating Act only made rates recoverable "wi n "V two years the Act should be i..urpreted to read that unless a special defence waH tiled as in tha case of the Statute of Limi'.atiocs the two years' limit was not Enforceable. The Magistrate at !h: lime reserved his decision on the point raised by Mr Hanna, but on Thursday announced that the could not accept Mr Hanna'a argument and would have to rule that proceedings tor the recovery of rating arrears must be taken within two years. The effect of the Magistrate's ruling was that the Council's claims were reduced to the arrears for the one year ending March ;ilst last, instead of for two years. The cases were undefended. Mr Hanna explained that the Council was in no way taking drastic action as might be implied by the big list of summonses, the portion was that a considerable proportion of property withiu tha County was owned by people who did not pay rates, the identity or whereabouts of the owners not being known. The consequence was that the Council had each year to write off a large quantity of irrecoverable rates, and a false poistion was also created by the rates being struck according to the valuation roll on lands which were unproductive for the reason stated. By taking action that day the Council, if the owners were not found, would after securing judgment take steps to have the land sold, and new owners would be forthcoming, so that the rates would then be paid. The Magistrate stated that he recognised the difficulties the Council now had to meet. Judgments for the amounts claimed, with custs, wore duly entered up.