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138
A few of the owners raised objections to the scale as being
inadequate to meet their losses on empty property, particularly
where property was old and dilapidated, but the scheme was accepted
by a large majority of those concerned. Before the end of the
year, 204 Agreements had been entered into by owners, practically
representing the whole of the available compounding property within
the Parish.
HALF YEARLY RATES.
In connection with the re-adjustment of the Compounding Scale
it was felt by the Board that the custom of making the rates quarterly
and having the Rate Books re-printed for that purpose every three
months, was cumbrous and contrary to the practice adopted in the
majority of the larger Parishes throughout the Metropolis, and on the
2nd May, the Board determined that the rates should, in future, be made
half yearly instead of quarterly. The alteration commenced from the
29th September, 1898.
RATE BOOKS, DEMAND NOTES, ETC.
The Board deemed the occasion of making half-yearly rates and
the alteration of the Compounding commission a suitable time for the
re-organisation of the Rate Books and the Demand and Receipt Notes
for the Collectors. Alter a sub-Committee had carefully enquired into
the matter, it was determined to alter the form of Rate Books so as to
emboely two quarters' rates in one book. Another and more important
amendment was made with regard to the order in which the names were
set forth in the books. It had been the practice hitherto to place the
names in the order in which it was most convenient for the Collectors to
call upon the ratepayers, regardless of street or alphabetical order, the
result being that the premises in some streets were scattered over a
large number of pages throughout the Rate Hooks rendering it extremely
difficult to ascertain whether the whole of the premises in such streets
had been properly assessed. Having in view the provisions of the
Registration Acts and the necessity for more readily finding the premises
on the Rate Books, the Overseers deemed it advisable that in future the
premises should bo entered in the books in alphabetical street order. It