UNPAID RATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22847, 30 September 1937, Page 10

UNPAID RATES

THE 10 PER CENT PENALTY NO RELIEF LEGISLATION MINISTER DEFINES POSITION [BY TELKGRArH —SPKCIAL REPORTER] "WELLINGTON, "Wednesday The Government is not prepared to, re-enact legislation authorising local bodies to grant concessions in respect of the 10 per cent penalty on unpaid rates. This was made clear by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, in the House of Representatives to-day, when he replied to a question asked some days ago by Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition—Riccarton). :/-• "The provision authorising local bodies to grant concessions with respect to the 10 per cent penalty on rates was enacted in the early stages of the depression." Mr. Parry said. It wa3 intended purely as a temporary provision to meet certain difficulties which arose at that time. It was never intended as a. permanent provision. "As we have now fortunately passed; out of the depression, there is no need to perpetuate depression provisions, and it is for this reason that tin; Government is not prepared again to enact this legislation. The matter is entirely in the hands of the local bodies themselves. and they have ample power to look after the interests of their ratepayers in this respect. "If the local bodies feel that the financial position of their ratepayers is such that it would cause undue hardship to impose the penalty, then they f have the option either of refraining from imposing it or of postponing the imposition of the penalty" until such time as the ratepayers have a reasonable opportunity to meet their rating obligations."