I would like to ask the Minister if he can form any idea of the counties that are likely to avail themselves of the provisions of this measure.
PUBLIC BUSINESS. - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (RATES ON AGRICULTURAL LAND) BILL, 1924—FOURTH STAGE.
So far as I know, all the County Councils who up to the present have considered the matter have passed resolutions agreeing to accept the benefits conferred with the exception, I think, of one.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
That is to say, all the County Councils who have considered it up to the present are in favour of the Bill except one?
Mr. HOGAN
So far as I know.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I think what the Senator is anxious to know is how many County Councils have agreed to accept it.
Yes, a general idea. I can understand that the Minister may not know, because some County Councils may not have dealt with the measure.
Mr. HOGAN
I think only five or six have considered it as yet. I do not say that information is very accurate, but it is as far as I know.
SECTION 5.
The following amendment standing in my name was left over from the Committee Stage:—
Immediately before Section 5 to insert a new Section 5 as follows:—
5.—Any ratepayer in a county may, during the hours that the office of the County Council is open, on payment of a fee of one shilling, inspect any books or returns of the County Council, showing the rates which have been paid in the county.
I understand that as the law stands at present ratepayers have most of the powers mentioned in the proposed new section. Under these circumstances, I ask leave to withdraw it.
Perhaps I ought to explain that I kept my promise and looked into this matter. Under the existing law—that is the Poor Law Act of I and II. Victoria—everybody who is interested has a right at all reasonable times to an inspection of the rate-book and taking copies and extracts. The rate-book is kept in such a way that it shows what rates have been paid up to within about a fortnight before inspection, because the Secretary of the County Council is bound to enter up in a column that is provided, the collection of the rates up to about a fortnight before. The collector has to send in his returns every fortnight, and the result of that fortnight's collection is put into the rate-book by the Secretary. Therefore, the ratepayer has all the advantage that the Senator desires, and the additional advantage that he gets it for nothing instead of paying 1s.