OHURA COUNTY RATES

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1933, Page 12

OHURA COUNTY RATES

FIGURE SAME AS LAST YEAR DRASTIC COLLECTION OF ARREARS. DISCUSSION BY THE COUNCIL. The Ohura County Council at its meeting on Wednesday decided to levy a general rate of 5d in the £1 on the unimproved value in the Ohura and Matiere ridings, a levy of ljd in the £1 '‘unimproved value in the Ohura town district, and <d in the £1 in the New Plymouth Harbour Board area. That is the same rate as was levied last year, with the exception of the New Plymouth harbour rate. That rate is levied over a small area of the south end of the county, producing .3132. Last year that amount was paid out of the riding fund instead of the striking of a special rate. That method, however, was not considered equitable to the ratepayers of the riding who were not included in the area. It was also decided to take drastic steps to collect arrears of rates. Cr. Caird said every step should be taken to collect outstanding rates, particularly the large amounts, before the levying of a new rate. Cr. Romayne said that apparently the willing horse was paying. The council was endeavouring to collect the rate from the mortgagees, but in some cases the council should take extreme steps, even to the extent of selling properties wnere there was a reasonable prospect of obtaining the rates in that way. It was not fair that other ratepayers should have a heavier burden to bear because some ratepayers would not meet their obligations. Councillors generally agreed, holding that there should be no discrimmation. After further discussion it was decided to hold a special meeting of the council to go thoroughly into the question of rates, With a view to gving the solicitor definite instructions. EAST COAST MOVEMENT. The Wairoa Harbour Board forwarded a report of the conference of rating authorities held in that district to discuss the collection of rates on Crown lands and lands mortgaged to the Crown, and the resolutions passed (already published). The chairman said he doubted whether any good could be done. He recognised that it was necessary that some steps should be taken but favoured appointing delegates to the proposed conference later. Cr. Romayne sai/l committees had been set up on several occasions but nothing had come of it. The Counties Association had also waited on the Minister without effect. The chairman said a Parliamentary committee would report direct to the House, so that something might be done in that way. It was decided to reply that the council was very sympathetic towards the proposal but that the question of a delegate could be considered at a later date if a Parliamentary committee was set up. The clerk submitted a financial statement showing that he debit balance at April 1, 1933, was £3554. Payments since that date had been £4304 and receipts £3707, leaving a debit balance of £4151. Subsidies due totalled £372, subsidies on rates £5OO and benzine refund £lOO, a total of £972. That would reduce the overdraft to £3179. There was therefore a margn of £2321 as against the bank overdraft limit of £5500. The position regarding the rates was as follows: Matiere riding, outstanding at April 1 £2513, collected since £B9O, outstanding £1623; Ohura riding, outstanding £2475, collected since £414, outstanding £2061. - / The clerk submitted estimates for the current year as follows: Expenditure totalled £3379, the principal items being salaries £550, travelling expenses £lBO, public health and legal £3OO, insurance £l5O, wages £lOO, printing and advertising £250, car £l5O, machinery instalment £5BB, antecedent liability interest account to ridings £270, bank charge £3OO, Taumarunui hospital £l3ll, repairs, materials etc. £230. Genei’al receipts £B5O (subsidy on rates £5OO, licenses £3OO, sundries £5O, reduced the amount to £2529. Rates struck for the year ending March 31, 1933, at 5d in the £1 totalled £4432, of which £3279 had been collected. That left a margin of £750 for the ridings after providing for general expenditure. Up to June 30 there had been expended in the Matiere riding £471 and in the Ohura riding £155. In addition to these estimates there was required £332 (harbour board rate £132, instalment on tractor £229 and last instalment on truck £3l). TEN PER CENT.. PENALTY. Some discussion took place over ths imposition of the 10 per cent, penalty on overdue rates. It was stated by a councillor that he understood the collection of the 10 per cent, penalty was enforced only in cases where the rates’ had to be placed in the hands of the solicitor for collection. The solicitor stated that the penalty became due immediately the notice was advertised. The council could remit the penalty if it wished. ■ Cr. Romayne said that if the penalty were remitted in some cases there would be no incentive to ratepayers to. meet their rate obligations.

Cr. Renner agreed that the 10 per cent, penalty should be imposed, but he held that all ratepayers should be treated alike. Remissions should not be given in some cases and refused in others. The chairman said the council could remit the penalty only by resolution in eases of hardship. Cr. Renner said he had been under the impression that in cases where ratepayers .in arrears paid their rates prior to receiving notice from the county solicitor the 10 per cent, penalty was remitted.

The chairman said that was not the case. Where the solicitor had to collect the rates the solicitor had to be paid commission.

Cr. Renner held that all rates in arrears should be sued for in accordance with the resolution. That would save any suggestion among the ratepayers of discrimination.

A ratepayer who forwarded a cheque for £l5O in payment of rates asked that the council should not press for the penalty. It was resolved that the 10 per cent, penalty must be paid.