LEVELS COUNTY RATES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18818, 5 March 1931, Page 11

LEVELS COUNTY RATES.

POSITION OF THE RIDINGS. The chairman of the Levels County Council (Mr T. B. Garrick), in the course of his statement at the monthly meeting of the Council yesterday, said that he was sorry to have to report that the rates had not been coming in at all well. The total amount struck was £16,277/15/7, and the amount collected £13,327/17/2, leaving £2949/18/5 outstanding. At March 15 last year, the amount outstanding was only £4OO. The chairman then read the following statement, showing the position of the various ridings:— Otipua riding—Total rates struck £2770/4/10, collected £2390/5/4, outstanding £379/19/6. Seadown riding.—Total rates struck £2520/5/-, collected £1949/11/1, outstanding £570/13/11. Waimataital riding.—Total rates struck £2874/2/7, collected £2414/5/6, outstanding £459/17/1. Point riding.—Total rates struck £2663/2/-, collected £2315/8/8, outstanding £347/13/4. Tengawai riding.—Total rates struck £2574/13/5, collected £1790/18/2, outstanding £783/15/3. Claremont riding—Total rates struck £2875/7/9, collected £2467/8/5, outstanding £407/19/4. Total amount outstanding £2949/18/5. The chairman said that during the past few days a great deal of work in this connection had been done by the clerk (Mr F. E. Whitehead) and his assistant (Miss H. J. Allan), and he considered that they deserved the best thanks of the Council for the extra work they had done. Mr Whitehead informed the Council that over a period of years the amount of rates outstanding at the present time had not exceeded £IOOO. Continuing, he asked for a direction as to what he should do in regard to overdue rates, how that the ten per cent, penalty was to be imposed. He suggested that no action be taken until after March 31, for in the meantime further money was bound to come in.

The chairman: “The law is the law, and they can’t get out of the ten per cent, penalty.” Mr Selbie: “There is no law where there, is no money.” The chairman: "We can hold the matter until next meeting.” Mr Selbie: "Ratepayers should be informed that the Council expected them to pay as soon as they could.” It was decided to leave the question of sueing for rates until the next meeting.