Wage orders suggested for arrears of rates

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32941, 13 June 1972, Page 13

Wage orders suggested for arrears of rates

An amendment to the Rating Act by which councils would be allowed to collect arrears of rates by payrhent orders on wages or salaries is sought by the Waimairi County Council in a remit which will be considered by the Counties’ Conference.

The council, which is supported in its request by the committee representing urban counties, points out that income tax arrears can be collected in this way at a rate of not more than one-twentieth a week of the amount due, or not more than 20 per cent of the wages or salary, whichever is the least. '

The council points out that while the Rating Act has provisions .for the recovery of unpaid rates, the proposed payment order, as an alternative to legal recovery proceedings, would be of benefit both to the local authority and the ratepayer. Waimairi’s is one of 57 remits listed for consideration by the conference, some of them hardy annuals, others new approaches to old problems, and ! still more proposing remedies for new problems. EVen with strict : limits on speaking time, the disposal of the remit discussions is a test of the chairman’s ability to control but not stifle proceedings. One old subject that is bound to cause the usual sharp division of opinion is plural voting, raised in . a remit from Wahemo County, which wants a reassessment of the basis on which county ratepayers get one, two or three votes, depending on ' valuations. The council maintains the system has worked well, and not affected the rights

of other voters in an' unreasonable way. The Akaroa County Council wants legislative authority to enable councils to make a levy of up ’ to 4 per cent of the market value of each, subdividable section, the money th be paid into a separate account as a capital works reserve to be used only for the improvement and extension of services. Hie council points out that while there is power to require subdividers to pay for the installation of services, the cumulative effect of subdivisions is such that capital works become necessary, increasing the burden on the general ratepayer, or the demand for loan money. Asking that the Food Hygiene Regulations be put into effect in regard to the wrapping of bread, the Matamata County Council says that though it would appear that the position is adequately covered by legislation, experience indicates that the law is largely being ignored. An optimistic note is struck by the Franklin County Council, which wants the Government to lend money at 1 per cent to councils carrying out bridge renewal programmes. Among seven remits dealing with noxious weeds, the Geraldine County Council wants the Government to intensify research .into the control of two prime probSis, nodding thistle and ley grass. The council says that fanners using weedicides at the recommended rates have had little success in controlling these weeds.

The Whangarei County Council sponsors a remit which asks the Government to explain its policy on the provision of subsidies fur rural water-supply schemes, claiming that numerous councils have applied for subsidy, yet have had to wait for-approverfor more, than three years in some cases. Because of the drift to the towns. and cities, the Akitio County Council asks that the Government give more consideration to an

increase in school boarding allowances. Rural counties, the council says, are finding it harder to hold staff because of .school fees, and the same applies in the farming community. Problems connected with the shortage of loan- money will be raised by a Paparda County Council remit which asks that loans for hospital boards be made from Government development loans rather than compete with other Ipcal body loans. The Taranaki County Council thinks that despite

recent increases, the maximum of $BOOO that can be advanced for rural housing should be raised to $lO,OOO. Many councils will echo the sentiments of the Waikato County Council, which asks for the exemption from sales tax of goods bought by councils. In Waikato’s. case, the council paid $13,292 in sales tax on new vehicles, and believes it is inequitable to levy tax in the form of rates to pay another tax in the form of sales tax.