RATE COLLECTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 63, 20 March 1913, Page 7

RATE COLLECTION.

Mr R. H. Rhodes (Chairman oi t lie W aimatc County Council) forwarded a resolution, passed by his Council, advocating the desirability of obtaining an alteration of tho law relating to the collection of rates, by having section 28 of the Rating Amendment Act, 1910, so amended that a charge of 10 per cent, may bo added to. all rates unpaid at the expiration of two months from the demand thereof; and that the co-opera-tion of other County Councils be invited with a view of having the proposal carried into effect. The letter pointed out that, while the Rating Amendment Act, 1910, provided that a charge of 10 per cent.'may be added to all rates unpaid at the expiry ot six months and fourteen days from the demand thereof, it is found that this provision practically retards payment of a large portion of rates until close upon the expiry of the time limit, many ratepayers with-holding payment for six months after the rates of other ratepayers have been paid, often necessitating an overdraft for which all ratepayers have to pay; this is obviously inequitable. On tho motion of Councillors Marfell and’‘Christoffel, it was resolved without discusison, to allow die letter to lay on the table. Finally, however, it was decided to inform the Wairnato County Council that this Council was not able to support such a proposal, as the present system was suited to this district, where settlers had to wait for their milk cheques before being able to pay their rates. Ilg- \ :-1~.