UNPAID RATES.

Shannon News, 21 January 1924, Page 3

UNPAID RATES.

HOROWHENUA COUNTY’S UNSATISFACTORY POSITION. At the conclusion of the discussion of engineer’s report at the meeting oi the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday, the chairriian (Cr. G. A Monk, remarked that he had sat for three-quarters of an hour listening to .requests by the different councillors lor works to be done, all involving heavy expenditure. “I suppose you will all agree that just at the present /time New Zealand is passing through . a prosperous period. I had thought that the high prices for produce would ’.be reflected in our overdraft, but this has not been so. Even during the worst season of the slump a larger amount of. general rates were paid than have been this year. I feel that many ratepayers could easily pay their rates, but they think that any time will do. If everyone paid promptly it would help greatly to decrease the cost of working as we -should have to pay less interest. If every ratepayer paid within 14 days it would mean a decrease in rates. The trouble is that many ratepayers have not thought of paying their rates. We have collected approximately £4144 out of' £16,700 general rates. Even during the .worst season we had collected approximately half of the rates by tills time. Also there is still a large amount - of unpaid rates from last .year. I think we shall have to get a judgment for these and have it put against the title.. We can draw noi rates from Crown land, ibut I hope that when this soldier settlement business is finished they will come under the general rate the same as other people.’'' ' Tiie clerk pointed out that if rates were promptly paid it would not only help materially to reduce’ the overdraft but would greatly decrease the amount of' office work and the audit fees. There were several large accounts outstanding, which he had refrained from paying, because he wished to put them off as long as possible rather than pay interest on the money. ' x The chairman suggested that overdue. rates be sued for after 14 clays’ notice. Councillors: It is too drastic. The chairman: There you are, too drastic!