RATES PAID IN ADVANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18346, 12 March 1923, Page 8

RATES PAID IN ADVANCE.

A REBATE SUGGESTION.

WELLINGTON REJECTS IDEA.

A request has been mad« to the Wellington City Council by Sir Harold Beauchamp that rates paid in advance should be subject to a rebate of 5 per cent. The matter came before the council last week, when the Finance Committee recommended that the request bo declined. The Mayor, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., stated that next financial year the council proposed to issue only one demand for rates, which could, however, bo paid in two half-yearly instalments if ratepayers desired. The committee felt that if Sir Harold Beauchamp's suggestion were acted upon, it would result in the loss of a , considerable amount of revenue. Mr. T. Forsyth: "The rebate would be nearly ae high as the bank rate." Mr. B. G. H. Burn thought there might be some inducement to people to pay their rates promptly if the rebate were given. It was just a question whether the council would not have more money to work on if the suggestion were given effect to. The council might be able to carry on without having such a big overdraft from 'the bank. The Mayor stated that in future he did not think the council would have to pay such a lot away in interest and overdraft as it had done & the past. He felt sure that as soon as the new system of issuing rate notices was firmly established, it would be a success. The recommendation of the committee was adopted.