CO129-550-1 Estimates 1935 14-9-1934 - 15-9-1934 — Page 325

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has drawn my attention to one such case for he tells me he is experiencing difficulty in the collection of rates. Hitherto these have been paid with commendable speed and

the number of late payers has not been out of proportion

to the total. Ratepayers are now beginning to be more dilatory in payment, resulting in more reminders having to be despatched. This quarter, some 9,000 reminders

were despatched out of a total of about 29,000 on the roll. This means a large increase in work, including searches of Land Office registers, much correspondence, and in some

cases, resort to legal proceedings. Some years ago, an

Assistant Crown Solicitor was attached to the Treasury

with two clerks and the names of all defaulters were turned

over to him to deal with. By arrangement with the Crown Solicitor, the Treasury took over the greater part of this work and much overlapping and expenditure were saved. If,

however, the number of late payers continues, steps will

have to be taken to speed up collection. Several alter- natives present themselves of which the two most feasible are (a) an increase in the rate with a corresponding decrease if payment is tendered within the legal period provided in the Rating Ordinance, (b) a surcharge in the case of delayed payments. Another alternative is an in- crease in the present Treasury staff, or the re-appoint-

ment of an Assistant Crown Solicitor to be attached to

the Treasury with his staff and provision of office

accommodation.

It is hoped, therefore, that ratepayers

will help the Government by paying promptly and so save