COLLECTING ABSENTEE RATES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 88, 4 July 1879, Page 2

COLLECTING ABSENTEE RATES.

The Fox ton Local Board intend to begin collecting the rates in real earnest. A batch of summonses will be issued in a few days against persons in arrears, and it is anticipated that if a few conspicuous examples are made the effect will be • salutary. The Board also contemplates putting into force the clauses of the Rating Act referring to absentees. We have glanced over these, and notice that any local governing body, if unable to find the owner, has power to sell the property after the lapse of twelve months. Ample provision is made by which a clear title is given to »he purchaser of the land seized and sold for rates, and any amount remaining after the rates and all accompanying charges are paid, is handed over to the Public Trustee, who retains and invests it until a claim is made for the sum in his hands. It is a known fact rhat a large quantity of land in and around Foxton is owned by persons who are either absentees, or who keep their ownership a secret in order to avoid paying rates, and thus contributing to the improvement of the town. If the Board puts into force the absentee clauses of the Hating Act, and a few sections of good land are sold under them, we imagine a number of owners who are at present too modest to proclaim their possessions will come to the front in an incredibly short space of time. We regard the idea as an exoellent one, and will give it our heartiest support.