Procedure where owner is poor and unable to pay rate

(1) Where it is brought to the notice of a local authority that any owner of property in its town is poor and indigent and unable to pay the rate on the property or unable to pay more than a portion thereof, that local authority if satisfied as to the truth of those facts shall, before any steps are taken to enforce payment of such rate under this Act, transmit to the Minister for his information a statement of the case containing the name of the owner, the amount due by him for rates, a description of the property owned by him and any evidence of the poverty of 28 any such person or of his inability to pay the whole or any portion of the rate. (2) In all such cases the local authority in question, or any person authorised by it, may make inquiries from such owner and any other person who may be willing to give information respecting the circumstances of such owner and take statements in writing in reference thereto. (3) The Minister may institute such further inquiry as he considers necessary and may remit the whole or a portion of the rate then due, or allow time for payment or make such other order as he may judge expedient. rates.