ARREARS OF RATES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 169, 10 March 1932, Page 5

ARREARS OF RATES

.("Post" Special Commissioner).

lo per cent. penalty LOCAL BODIES POWERS IN CASES OF UNDUE HARDSHIP AMENDMENT OF ACT' SOUGHT

WEDNESDAY, Wednesday. In the House of Representatives today, Mr. A. Harris (R.eform, Waiteinata), associated . with' Mr. A. M. ^amuel (Reform, Thames), asked the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, whether he would this session, introduce an amendment to Section 7 6 of the Rating Act giving local authorities diseretionary power regarding the impositipn of the 10 per cent. penalty on rates in arrears. Mr. Harris said that in cases of hardship arising out of the depression many local bodies desired to extend leniency to ratepayers, bnt could not do so owing to the provision of the act Jieing mandatory. Mr. Forbes' replied that Section 76 of the Act authorised local authorities to add an additional 10 per cent. to unpaid rates, but that did not impose any obligation on them to do so. Any local body could, thereiore, refrain from adding the penalty for such period as was considered peasonable. He understood that several local authorities were refraining from acting in any harsh manner." Mi*. Forbes said the Government was prepared to consider makirig provision along the lines suggested if representations were made by the

Counties' Association, the Municipal Association and other similar bodies. Mr. Harris: "Local bodies have to advertise that the penalty will come into operation in a certain period and there is no diseretionary power once they have advertised." The Prime Minister said he wonld look into that aspect of the qnestion.