The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Saturday May 9, 1891. ALLEGED DEFAULTERS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 605, 9 May 1891, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Saturday May 9, 1891. ALLEGED DEFAULTERS.

Be just and fear not; Let all the enda thou aim’st at bo thy country’s, Thy God’s, and truth’s.;

The demands which the Harbor Board felt it necessary to serve upon all ratepayers who appear, whether rightly or not, as defaulters on the books, have caused some consternation in the minds of those who have paid their rates, or believe they have, and have not receipts in their possession. Some people never concern themselves about retaining such receipts and the new phase of affairs comes upon them as a rude awakening. Many ratepayers have

asked us the question as to what will be their position in the matter if they are wrongly branded as defaulters, and have not receipts in their possession to show that they have been wronged. Is there, they ask, nothing for them to do but meekly pay up a second time, or get worsted at the R.M. Court? Well, for our part, we do not think that any Court of Justice would allow such a hardship to be inflicted. The possible default of the Harbor Board, if it cannot safely tide over this crisis in its affairs, is a serious question to property-owners, but we do not imagine that any Court will, in the circumstances, be a party to the extortion of money a second time from a ratepayer because he does not happen to have a receipt at hand. If a man has honestly paid his rates, but cannot produce his receipt when called on by the Court, his sworn testimony should not be ignored. The books will be the strongest evidence against him, but it will be easy enough to prove, if that painful procedure is rendered necessary, that the books have been “ cooked.” In ordinary cases the Magistrate would be bound to take the oath of the Secretary, backed up by his books, as indisputable on the part of an alleged defaulter who cannot show a receipt. Any of the cases mentioned, however, will not be ordinary cases, and it seems to us that those who ask whether the legal dishonesty hinted at can be tolera. ted, may set their minds at ease on the matter. It may be suggested that if anyone’s testimony were allowed to hold good without the receipt, the door would be opened to fraud on the part of some who would falsely swear they had paid their rates. Be it so, that is no reason why honest people should be made to pay twice over. If the Magistrate were to hold that the oath of a party summonsed could not be taken in such a case, a defence fund ought to be established to fight the question on principle.