SUPREME COURT ACTION

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21806, 11 June 1936, Page 12

SUPREME COURT ACTION

OUTSTANDING RATES IN WAIMAIRI LARGE SUM INVOLVED DISCUSSION AND DECISION BY COUNCIL To recover unpaid rates amounting to £2OOO, accumulated over periods of five years and longer, the Waimairi County Council will take action through the Supreme Court against 48 defaulting ratepayers, to sell the properties concerned. The council came to this decision last evening after considering a report by the county clerk (Mr G. S. Cowper) on the outstanding rates, which have been causing considerable concern. It was estimated that the total amount owing to the council, including accumulations over shorter periods, totalled several thousands of pounds. Fears that indiscriminate action might cause hardship were expressed in a long discussion. Mr G. G. Gardner was in the chair. Looking over a list supplied by the county clerk, Mr F. S. Scott mentioned a case of a man owing more than £SOO. “Five hundred pounds!” exclaimed Mr Gardner. Mr Scott: And he lives in a better house than you do. Mr W. J. Walter: I would not like to see a case of hardship. That man living in a fine house —something should be done about him. But I don’t want to see people put on the street. Hard to Differentiate Mr W. G. Chapman had moved in the first place that action should bej taken against the defaulters. “I don’t see how we can differen- j tiate.” said the chairman. “I shall j put the motion, as there is no j amendment.” I Mr Chapman: I wish to reply. | Mr T. O. Newnham: Well, I will move an amendment. Ho moved j that a committee be set up to "consider the cases of default. Mr Gardner: If you asked me to go into these cases I could no more do it than fly over the moon. I cannot look into their affairs, or ask for balance-sheets. Other ratepayers who scrape and scratch—the burden falls on them. Mr Chapman: The people who borrow to pay rates—is it fair to them? 'The county clerk explained that he knew nothing of the financial position of these people. They were all cases of rates outstanding for five years and longer. “If I gave a list of thos;- who have gone four and three years without paying anything, you would have a dozen lists like this.” A Matter of Friendship Mr Gardner suggested that if a committee were formed, the people concerned might be asked to attend to discuss their cases. Mr Scott; Do the Same as others do. Go ahead. Tm afraid that if we have a committee we will all pick out our various friends and there will be nobody left,” said Mr J. Liggins. “Mr Newnham has mentioned one, and Mr Walter another ” Mr Walter; I’m not mentioning friends.

Mr Liggins: Perhaps I should not have used the word. With other cases not so old the amount must run into several thousands of pounds. “We are not getting anything, ’ said the county clerk, answering a question. “It has been going on for years and we are not getting anything. I wonder the council has not turned on me before and asked me why.” Mr Spencer remarked, while councillors laughed, that a good few of the defaulters in his riding were his personal friends. “I do not see where you are going to draw the line,” he added. “I should say —pick out for a start those from whom we are sure of getting money. With several you would be wasting time and money to go any further.”

Mr Chapman’s motion was carried.