REFUSAL TO LEVY RATE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 46, 4 December 1945, Page 2

REFUSAL TO LEVY RATE

ACTION MAY BE TAKEN LOCAL BODY MEMBERS LIABLE TQ FINE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 3. Power for the Government to take action in any case where a local body refuses to levy hospital rates is contained in a clause in the Statutes Amendment Bill introduced into the House of Representatives at the end of last week. This provides that where a local body fails to take action the members shall each be deemed to have committed an offence and shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £SO each, or £5 a day if the offence is a continuing one. This clause is of particular interest in view of the recent attitude of the Mangonui County Council, which failed to levy a hospital rate as a protest against what is regarded as the excessive burden of such a rate. The county’s view was stated to be that the Government should give relief from such a rate.

Where a ratepayer has defaulted in the payment of any rates payable to the Valuer-General that officer may require any person to deduct from any amount due by that person to the ratepayer such sum as may be specified. Every sum so deducted is to be paid to the Valuer-General to the credit of the ratepayer. Where any notice of this type relates to wages or salary the reduction shall not exceed 20 per cent, of the wages or salary. Any person who fails to make such a deduction is liable to a fine not exceeding £;100. It is that one method of deduction would be notices to dairy factories to take sums from cream cheques to meet rate demands.