RATES OVERPAID

Waikato Independent, Volume XLII, Issue 4003, 18 May 1942, Page 3

RATES OVERPAID

FOR TWENTY YEARS ERROR IN ROAD FRONTAGE Information that a ratepayer had ■ ** for years been paying rates on a ' fontage 10 feet in excess of what he actually owned was placed before the Matamata Borough Council at its. last meeting. The letter stated the property was valued on a basis of 109 feet frontage, whereas it was only 99 feet. ’ . The error apparently dated back about 20 odd years.. As a result Mr Vincent had paid something over £2 per annum in excess over that period.' A search had revealed that the mistake was made by the Valua- - Department, and an adjustment had been made. There appeared to be no legal *means whereby such rates overpaid ’ could' be recovered, and thus there 'was no enforceable claim against the council. However, there was a moral claim, and the council was asked if it could see its way to pay out of “unauthorised expenditure” some recompense as reimbursement for the rates overpaid over a long period of years. The Mayor remarked that the council did not have the money. He ' thought if they went back to the 'last valuation it was a? much as they could do. It had to be realised that there was an obligation on both ' sides to check such a position.