RATES COMING IN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 51, 22 October 1931, Page 3

RATES COMING IN

"very satisfactory" BETTER PERCENTAGE IS COLLECTED THAN LAST YEAR LARGER CREDIT BALANCE. I would di'aw councillors' attention to the fact that the position is very satisfaetory. More rates have been collected than at" the corresponding period of last year and cpnsidering the times, I think that speaks very highly for the manner in which ratepayers have responded," saia the chairman of the. finance Committpe,. Cr. G Urquhart, when suhmitting' k finaneial report to last night's meeting of the Rotorua Borough Council. The statemexlt showed that as at the last discount day, a total of £8,360 15s 3d in rates had been collected as against £7,612 18s lOd, at the eorresponding period of last year.; On a eomparative basis, a percentage of 67.9 of this year's rates had been collected as against' 62.11 per cent last year. The total amount outstanding as at Septemher 30, 1931 was shown to be £5,786 5s 4d as against £6,474 12s ld at the same date last year. . ... The eomparative statement of accounts showed that the council's credit bank balance had advanced from £985 3s 3d at Septemher 30, 19&(L±o £1,017 11s lOd at Septemher 30, 1931. This balance, together witH amounts advanced on loan, showed the council's bank balance to be £2,168 13s 8d, as against £1,540 19s 9d in September, 1930. ,

Tribute to Finance Cominittee Cr. E. T. Johnson -paid a tribute to the good work done by the Finance Committee in showing such a satisfaetory position. JDt was also- encouraging to reflect that *the ratepayers of the borough as a whole were able to comply with therr obligations. In spite of the hard tlmes, Rotorua was holding its own. Cr. O. H. Coleman: I think we should also emphasise the fact that the rates have been reduced 10 per cent. Cr. Urquhart: Except in the drainage areas. The Mayor (Mr. T. Jackson), said that the position was very satisfaetory. He had not anticipated that the nercentage of rates collected would have been so high. At the same time, it was possible that there might be a falling off in the number of payments made after the discount day but in time to avoid the 10 per cent. penalty. People who paid in time to ■collect the discount were what might be called "good marks," it was the other class which eould not pay in time to obtain the discount but whieh eould strive to avoid the penalty, was perhaps more likely to encounter difficulty. Mr Jackson emphasised the need for caution in spite of the satisfaetory pssition and stressed the necessity for keeping a careful eye on the expenditure. The Finance Committee had certainly dohe good work hnt it would not be able to relax its vigilance if it was to ensure a balanced budget at the end of the year.