CO129-592-6 Reports on current situation- including weekly intelligence reports 18-9-1945 - 20-12-1945 — Page 142

142

When matter was being considered in England it was proposed to collect this tax at modified rate of three per cent in respect of each quarter or twelve per cent for whole year, This was designed to obviate necessity for a revaluation and was based on the assumption that much property would have been partially destroyed, that many tenements would be empty and that the population as whole would be impoverished. The actual march of events however rendered this forecast inaccurate and the desirability of collecting rates

at the full 1941 figure of 17 per cent is now being considered.

Rental of piers in normal times brought in some 40,000 dollars. Steps have been taken to ascertain changes of ownership and condition of all such piers (some of which have been damaged or destroyed). When this information complete rents will again be collected.

Those

5. Notice is being inserted in press requiring all persons now operating dance halls to apply for licences. considered satisfactory from police point of view will be licensed at former rate.

Ôc Question of reimposition of licence fees in respect of hawkers, junks, pawnshops and stalls in market also under active consideration.