REBATE FOR RATES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 58, 9 March 1923, Page 3

REBATE FOR RATES

SUGGESTION BY SIR HAROLD BEAUCHAMP CITY COUNCIL DECLINES. A request has been made to the City Council by Sir Harold Beauchamp that rates paid in advance should be subject to a rebate of 5 per cent. The matter came before the council last night, when the Finance Committee recommended that the request be declined. The Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.) stated that, next financial year the council proposed to issue only one demand for rates, which could, however, be paid in two half-yearly instalments if ratepayers desired. The committee felt that if Sir Harold Beauchamp's. suggestion were acted upon it would result in the lo3s of a considerable amount of revenue. j Councillor T. Forsyth: "The rebate would be nearly as high as the bank rate." Councillor B. G. H. Burn thought there might be some inducement to people to pay their rates promptly if the rebate were given. It was just a question whether the council would not have more money to work on if the suggestion were given effect to. The council might be able to carry on without having such a 'big overdraft from the bank. The Mayor stated that in future he did not think the council would have to pay such a lot away in interest and overdraft as it had done in the past. He felt sure that as soon as the new system of issuing rate notices was firmly established, it would be a success. The recommendation of the committee was adopted.