CITY RATES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20463, 5 February 1932, Page 8

CITY RATES.

PAYMENT BETTER THAN LAST YEAR. THE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY. Payment of the Christchurch City Council's rates for 1931-32 is being made at the Municipal Offices rather more readily than was the case last year. Until February 3rd, £l6 4p per cent, of the rates had been paid, compared with £l3 15s per cent, to the same date last year. Comparative figures for the two years are as follows:—■ Levy (1930-31) .. £358,704 Hp 5d Paid at Feb. 3rd, 1931 .. .. £56,5156 0s lid Percentage paid . • 15,76 Levy (1931-32) £332,709 2s 4d Paid at Feb. 3rd, ] 933 . . £54,083 14s Od Percentage paid - • 16,20 Although the actual payment to February 3rd, 1932, was more than £2OOO less than for the same period of 1931, the 1931-32 rate levied is almost £25,000 less than tho 1930-31 rate. Weekly Payments Increasing. The last day upon which rates may be paid is March 22nd. All rates then outstanding will have a 10 per cent, penalty added. As that, day approaches the payments at the Council office grow more and mors heavy. Already, during the current week, the amount paid in has been greater than that for any previous week. The Council is willing to accept payment of rates by instalments, so that ratepayers need no longer wait until they have the full amount in hand. It is interesting to note that the City receives each year a subsidy on rates from the Government of £450. This subsidy, which is paid in varying proportions to. all local bodies levying general rates, is evidently intended to cover the charges tq which each ioeal body is put in providing eertain services for Government properties. Indeed, the payment of the subsidy is taken as an admission by the Government that it should recognise its share of liabilities for rates and for public scrviees for its own properties. Amount of Subsidy. The amount of the subsidy is defined by Section 72 of the Municipal Corporations Act, which states: —- (1) Where the general rates do not exceed £750, the subsidy is computed at 5b in the s£. (2) Where the general rates exceed £750, then a subsidy of 2s 6d in every £is allowed. The total subsidy, howover, must be no less a sum than £lB7 10s, and no greater than £4GO. In 1930 the Government's subsidies to local bodies on rates totalled £219,688. '