TEN PER CENT. PENALTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 110, 12 May 1931, Page 6

TEN PER CENT. PENALTY

WAITOTARA COUNTY DECISION ‘ ’B AU K COU N T R Y ' A RG U M E NT At yesterday's meeting of the Watotara County Council meeting the Countv Clerk was given authority to advertise that the ten per cent, penalty would be imposed on all unpaid rate.* at May 31. The chairman (Mr W. Mot risen i brought the matter up. lh«’ Council, he thought, was in a better position than last year. Last yea»’ the* credit balance was £1446, with £7OO un pai'l in rates. This year the balance was £1430 18s 6d; there was £3424 outstanding. But the matter of the ten per cent, penalty would have to be considered. Tho County Clerk (Mr A. S. Dy mock < said he knew that some people would pay when tho ten per cent, penalty was imposed. It was stated by the chairman that t lot were just hanging off. Some could not pay, others could. It the ten per cent, penalty were not enforced they would have to send oir. a whole sheaf of summonses. They .should advertise, that the ten per cent, penalty would be put on and then they could dc*'l with the rest. Ct. R. Farlev. Ynnr idea to bluff

the ratepayers? The chairman: No, it is not. If the Council were going to impose the ten per cent, penalty, he would vote against it. said Cr. Farley. At a previous meeting, he thought that the Council had decided that each case should be considered on its merits. A Jot would be surprised if they knew the real posi tion of the men in tho back country. The farmers in the front country were getting cheques for thei fat lambs, the men in the bark co intry did not gel. those cheques. The bark country men were faced with the position that wool cheques would not pay tne land tax an J the, road tax. He would admit there were some farmers who were shirking. but they were few. Taking the back country into consideration, ho thought it was wonderful the amount of money that had been collected by by the Council Cr. A. G. Goldsbury thought that in the interests of the ratepayers as a whole they would have to impose it. The chairman pointed out that in anticipation of the ten per cent penalty some had paid who hud not been able t > ago rd it. The motion was put and carried. Crs Farley and Allen voting against it.