RATEPAYERS RUSH TO SAVE 10 PER CENT FINE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6811, 15 January 1929, Page 6

RATEPAYERS RUSH TO SAVE 10 PER CENT FINE

AMOUNTS OUTSTANDING REDUCED TO £6OOO. There are a certain few ratepayers inspired with civic spirit who pay their rates promptly each year but they are in the minority. As a rule, it takes the threat of a penalty to make the average property owner conscious of the fact that he is indebted to his town and that his little contribution to the exchequer is badly needed if the borough is to be saved tho necessity of paying interest on overdraft. The current year is no exception and although more than half of the rates stnick in Palmerston North were paid before Christmas, half as much again has been collected within the last 10 days, following upon the intimation that the Council proposed to add ten per cont if they were not paid by yesterday, January 14. The total rates struck were £70,861 Is lOd and of that amount £49,274 10s 7d had been paid by December 31. Since the borough offices opened on January 3 no less than £24,378 3s 9d has been received, reducing the amount outstanding to £6208 Is 6d as against £8,922 13s 7d which was outstanding on the same day last year. The town is to be congratulated on this improved situation and it is confidently expected that cheqhes in the post will reduce the outstanding amount still further.