UNPAID RATES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 464, 23 February 1933, Page 4

UNPAID RATES

i Our Own Correspondent.)

OPOTIKI COUNCIL REJECTS 3IOTION TO WAIYE REBATE

(Fron;

Opotiki, Wednesday. In moving at the ordinary meeting of the Opotiki Borough Council, held on Tuesday night, that the 10 per cent. penalty on unpaid rates should not [be impo.sed ;th5s year, Cr. G. 3Ioody said that he thought it was quite useless to impose the penalty on persons who were absolutely unable to pay as it was merely making matters harder for them. Cr. Short suggested that the matter .should he taken in committee but Cr. Moody objected. Cr. Maine contended that the borough would suffer if the penalty was waived and while feeling sympathy with the proposal fie did not think that the council should remit it at the present time. Cr. Budd agreed with Cr. Maine that if the penalty was remitted, it would take so long to collect the rates that the council would have to run an overdraft at the hank on which they would have to pay interest. Cr. Shalfoon suggested that the council should allow payment by weekly or monthly instalmente. Cr. Tabh said that he had gone very fully into the question and he was quite satisfied that there were eases where ratepayers were absolutely unable to pay their rates and still less able to pay an extra 10 per cent. penalty. He suggested that if the council saw fit, they could later remit the penalty of 10 per cent. in cases of extreme hardship. The town clerk pointed out that when the penalty was put on, the ratepayers had already had eight months' credit. The only eouncillors in favour of the motion were Cr. Moody and Cr. Shalfoon, who had seeonded the lffotion pro forma. - .