COUNTY VOTERS.

Shannon News, 17 April 1923, Page 3

COUNTY VOTERS.

PAYMENT OF RATES IN RELATION TO VOTING. A matter of general interest to ratepayers which came up before the Horo whenua County Council at Saturday’s meeting, was an opinion received from the solicitor to the New Zealand Counties’ Association on the subject of the eligibility of ratepayers to vote under certain conditions which have arisen in some cases in connection with delayed payment of rates. The, case as submitted by the County was as follows:

“The Council gave the usual public notice iFiat it was the intention to strike a general rate in the respective ridings of the County, and in such notice were the words ‘the same to become due and payable in one instalment on the, Ist July, 1922.” The rates for the ridings were in due course struct; and the date for payment fixed as stated in the public notice before referred to., viz.. Ist July, 1922. Fur certain reasons in some instances the rate demands were not sent oult until February 5, 1923. Under Section 57 of the Counties Act, 1920, the Returning Officer is to be supplied, not less than ten days before an election with a list, of persons whose rates 'are then unpaid and have remained unpaid for a period of not less than six months.’ and persons whose names are on this lisi arc not entitled to vote.

“Question I.—When does the six inon ths mien tinned in Section 57 commence? Is it the date fixed when the rate is struck or is it from Lite date of the demand for the rah ‘ : Question 2—lf a ratepayer’s nam“ is on the list, which is made up icn days before an election, and such ratepayer pays up on one or other i f the intervening days prior to B e polling, can hej be allowted to vote? # The opinions given in answer are as follows: 1. From the expiration of 14 days alter service of demand. Rates are not payable by a ratepayer before demand, and so do not become a “debt” owing by him, to the Council until the expiration of the 14 days. 2. No.

The Chairman explained that this opinion had been procured by thie* County Clerk purely for the Council’s guidance in compiling the Eelectoral Roll. However, as it was a matter which affected certain ratepayers the Council was making the matter public for the purpose of removing any doubt which these ratepayers might entertain as to their eligibility to votie. Cr Harkness said he was very pleased that the Council had seen fit U* get, this advice, as many were under the impression that they could not vote unless they had first paid their rates in full. The rate notices had been sent out in some instances voy late and it was important that in these' cases ratepayers should know that die six months in which the rates had to be paid dated only from the time sir-li notices were sent out. The Council had done the right thing in making this information public as it gave some people a vote' who otherwise would not have one.

The chairman said that it was important that there should not he any .misunderstanding on the subject. This ruling applied only to those who had not paid the present year’s rates, and to those only in certain cases. -Those 1 who had not paid last year's rales were still defaulters and were disenfranchised.

Cr.. Broadbelt said a certain amount of blame was due to the Council for not having sent out the notices in time, and making the* position public was I lie best tiling possible.