RANGITAIKI RATES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 32, 5 July 1939, Page 5

RANGITAIKI RATES

V .1. ■ —ilo THE 10 FER V CENT PENALTY REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT Requesting the postponing of the penalty rate o] ten per cent on land drainage rates until November 30th at the earliest, the chairman of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Ratepayers Association, Mr J. W. Sumner, wrote recently to the Acting Minister of Lands, but so far he has received no answer to his letter. In his lettd* Mr Sumner stresses the difficult period through which Rangitaiki settlers are passing. The terms of his letter are: ''As chairman of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Ratepayers' Association I have received numerous, re- » presentations as a result of your advertisement in the local paper in respect of the imposition of the ten per cent penalty rate on drainage "ates on the 30th instant. "As is known to you, sir, during the winter months settlers always experience considerable difficulty in arranging finance to meet even current expenditure,. This is particularly so this year because, as you, are aware. last, winter anel spring wenexcessively wet, and large areas of the Rangitaiki Plains were continual, ly under water. This particularly wet period was followed by a particularly dry summer, and the combination of these factors has meant that the production of the Rangitaiki Is down, over 800 tons, which represents approtfimaately £120, 000. 'T feel,'* concludes Mr • Sumner, ''that it is unnecessary for me to stress the position further. I respect, fully request under the authority vested in you by Section 54 of the Statutes Amendment Act, 1935. that you postpone the imposition j?f the penalty rate until November 30th at the earliest. In anticipation <:f your granting your settlers' request as indicated herein I thank you.;*