Disqualification Of Defaulting Ratepayers

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1939, Page 8

Disqualification Of Defaulting Ratepayers

‘■My executive is concerned at the inequitable position arising in the matter of the disqualification of defaulting ratepayers from their right to vote,” stated a letter from the provincial secretary of the Farmers’ Union, Mr A. E. Robinson, at the monthly meeting of the Whangarei County Council yesterday. ‘‘Although this disqualification extends to persons paying peppercorn rentals in having infinitesimal rates to pay, in practice these people would apparently be more likely to pay their rates, and perhaps many of them exercise votes in some districts. “There are legal rights the counties may use against defaulting ratepayers, extending even to the sale of properties (and the rating system itself has been practically abolished in all other countries insofar as it is comparable to New Zealand except, perhaps in Southern Ireland). “Those who 1 have large properties, esoecially in time of financial stress, have most interest, generally speaking, in the county roads and would therefore value their voting power more than others.”

The council’s observations as to how this state of affairs might best be remedied was sought by the union. The council decided to reply expressing the opinion that, as a ratepayer who defaults in payment of his rates within the statutory period is charged on additional amount of 10 per cent on his rates because of his temporary default, he should not be punished .a second time by being debarred from exercising his vote.