OVERDUE RATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22775, 8 July 1937, Page 12

OVERDUE RATES

THE 10 PER CENT PENALTY NO FURTHER REMISSION DECISION OF GOVERNMENT Advice that the Government had decided not to renew this year the legislation authorising local bodies to grant concessions respecting the 10 per cent penalty on overdue rates was received from the Municipal Association at, a meeting of the One Tree Hill Borough Council last night. The association reported that the Minister of Internal Affairs had been requested that the legislation should be enacted in respect to rates for the 1936-37 period. The Under-Secretary of the department had advised, however, that the principal reason for the legislation was on account of the depression. It was not intended that the provision should be annual, and as conditions were now returning to normal it had been decided not to pass the legislation.

The town clerk. Mr. A. Leese, said that the effect of the decision was that the council would no longer be able to remit the 10 per cent penalty on overdue rates, except in cases of poverty. In anticipation that the Government would act on the* association's recommendation, however, the 10 per cent penalty for 1936-37 rates paid up to April 30 this year had been remitted. It was decided to advise the Minister and the association of the position and, if a number of other bodies were in a similar position, the council agreed to ask the Government to extend the legislation to cover the period.