RIVER BOARD RATES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIV, Issue 37, 13 February 1900, Page 2

RIVER BOARD RATES.

" — ♦ — TO THB EDITO3. Sib,— The question of outstanding ratee hae been agitating the minds of the Lowei Wairau River Board— and quite time it did, ia the general opinion. It ia really Boandaloua that euoh a large sum should be outßtanding bo late m the fiaanoial year bb * *tnia, more especially when a considerable amount is Bwallowed up m interest ohargee. Talking about interest, I oould never see the Bense of Eiver Board finanoe m the matter of the expenditure of loan money. Why is it that when the loan fund has a large sum to its credit it does not earn interest, and thereby ease (he ourrent aooount, which is always m debt ? The loan fund wbb not wanted all At onoe, and a large portion of the unexpended balanoe should have been invested at fixed deposit for three, cix, nine, or twelve months — as the case may be. Why, sir, is it that, as yon say, oenain of the rates oannot be recovered, owing to having been allowed to run into arrears beyond the legal limit ? This, if oorreot, is eimply soandaloue, when other local bodies oan get every penny of rates m before the olobb of the finanoial year. Bates ought to be the easiest possible debt to recover, as they are made a first charge on all landed property, and no possible defence can be offered m a court of law tot non-payment. The old Board has certainly been very remiss m oarrying out its finanoial dutieß, and it ia earnestly hoped by many ratepayers who do assist the Board m oarrying out its useful work by promptly paying up their quota of rates, that the new Board will do its best to waken ud the laggards, and we shall soon see the Board's finances m a more robust condition,— l am. etc., Pat Up,