VPRS 3753 Rate Collector's Report Book

Under Section 5 of the Mildura Vineyards Protection Act 1918 (No. 2959), the Mildura Vineyards Protection Board was able to make and levy an annual Vineyards Protection Rate on owners or occupiers of vineyards within the Mildura Vineyards Protection District. The amount of rate was to be determined by the Board based on the age of the vines, although a statutory limit applied [S.5(1)]. All monies received by the Board were to be paid into a vineyards protection fund, to be used for payment of compensation and expenses incurred in the work of the Board [S.8].Early in each financial year (between October and December) the Board struck the Vineyards Protection Rate for the following financial year ending 30 September. Information about rateable properties was collected annually and entered into a rate book, including amounts due and paid for each rateable property.The Rate Collectors Report Book was used to record rates as they were received by the rate collector. The information recorded is:Number of receiptDate of paymentNumber on the rateName of ratepayerAmounts paid towards rates current and in arrears, in each of the three age divisionsAmounts paid to treasurer.Although legislation dissolving the Board came into effect in 1932, it is not clear whether the Board was active throughout the entire period from 1919 to 1932. Records held by the PRO indicate that the Board was active from 1919 until at least 1928. The financial year ending 30 September 1927 may have been the final year for which the vineyards protection rate was levied (see series text for VPRS 3531).