CITY RATES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 40, 17 February 1933, Page 5

CITY RATES

£66,422 OUTSTANDING

INDUCEMENT TO PAY EARLIER

Of the total amount, of rates levied for- the year ending ■ March. -31 next, £ 509,528, 86.96 per cent, or £ 443,106 had been collected by Wednesday night, the last date t>efore the statutory 10 per cent, penalty was applied, stated the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) at the meeting of the City^ Council last night. This left rates amounting to £66,422 still outstanding. For the'year ending Mareh.3l, 193,2, the Mayor, added," rates, amounting to £508,404 had been levied, 1 and by February 18, the penalty date being a few days later than this year, £455,822 had been paid, leaving £52,582 outstanding. The current . year's ' rates were £14,000 odd behind last -year. At one stage it appeared that", the position might have been -worse,. but very considerable amounts had: been .paid in during, the last day or two., I "I think we want to get in-as much of. these outstanding rates 'as possible t>y encouraging these people," Mr. Hislop said. "We haven't yet got the power to remit.the 10 per cent, penalty, but I have strong hopes that the Government will bring "'down legislation to enable us to do that. Subject to getting tthat power, I should say that everyone who pays his rates between now and March 27, should have portion of the 10\per cent, penalty he has now incurred remitted. We'can't remit- the lot, because that would not be fair to those people who have already paid, but I suggest that: the penalty should be 7J per cent., providing, of course, we-get the necessary authority. It is necessary the money should be in by March 27, because the treasury is very "busy between then and March 31.getting the figures ready for the whole year." Councillor P. Meadowcroft said that yesterday- £66,000 had- been, paid in, and he ■ asked if some extra inducement could not be-given ratepayers to pay, the money in, earlier, say, an extra 5 per • cent. Some people did not pay their rates until they had to, but if they got 5 per cent, on it they would pay in much earlier. He: also suggested that the rate notices should be sent out earlier: The Mayor's motion that, if the authority is forthcoming, the 10 per cent, penalty now incurred on outstanding rates should be reduced to 7J: per" cent, if the rates are paid by March 27, was carried. .