RATE DEFAULTERS

Waikato Independent, Volume XL, Issue 3668, 15 February 1940, Page 4

RATE DEFAULTERS

WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL STRONG ACTION TO BE TAKEN “As far as I can see, the man who does not pay his rates has a better car than the man who pays,” said Mr G. M. Watt, of Cambridge, when , outstanding rates were being discussed at a meeting of the Waikato County Council on Tuesday. With several thousands of pounds outstanding in arrears of rates, many of which date back several years, the Council decided to take definite action against defaulting ratepayers. Action will be concentrated on ratepayers who have allowed rates to become outstanding for some time without making any effort to clear up the deficit. The county clerk, Mr C. F. E. Barton, was instructed to prepare lists of defaulting ratepayers in each riding so that members could recommend against whom definite action should be taken. , From Bad to Worse The chairman, Mr J. A. Sampson, in recommending more definite action, said the county had in the past adopted the policy of exerting “all possible compulsion 'on ratepayers without taking extreme action.” The position was going from bad to worse, however, and between £7OOO and £BOOO was always outstanding. There were numbers of ratepayers who would have to know definitely that they must pay up or get out of the county. Mr R. G. Young said he had been told by solicitors that the collection of money was becoming more lifficult all the time. He knew of 'a case where an order on a dairy cheque had left a farmer With * nothing and when the solicitor be- ‘ came acquainted with that fact, he had returned £5 to the farmer. Mr Young thought the difficulty in securing money was a symptom of the times.

Mr Sampson added that there might be some ratepayers in that position, but there were,many who would not pay if they thought they could “dodge” it, even, if they had the means to meet their rates. Use of the Roads Mr G. H. Walter said he knew of a woman who had not paid any rates all the time he had been a member of the council. Surely, he said, she could have spared £1 at soriie time during that period. !Mr P. E. Dingle said each member would know of the genuine cases in his own riding and could make recommendations accordingiiy. Mr Barton, the clerk, said there were numbers of ratepayers against whom the county had secured judgment but no further action had been taken and no effort had been made by the to pay. The amount invalvedwaj ; considerable. “We cannot go on in this way indefinitely,” said Mr Sampson. “The spirit is creeping in among ratepayers that others; are pot paying so why should they? ,We have the name of letting ratepayers off if they can put up a good story,” he added. Mr Walter added that defaulting ratepayers were using the roads as much as other ratepayers, who, consequently, had to shoulder the burden of upkeep.