QUIET YEAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 27, 12 November 1947, Page 4

QUIET YEAR

Ratepayers’ Association

NO QUORUM AT MEETING Sixteen attended the annual meeting of the Ashburton Ratepayers’ Association last evening and, as the prescribed quorum is 20, it was possible to .deal only with general matters. The president, Mr J. T. Pratley, was in the chair.. “We have gone 1 about our work quietly during the year,” stated Mr Pratley, after announcing that certaiin formal matters, such as election of officers, could not be proceeded with through the lack of a quorum. He added that committee meetings had been well attended duriing the year. Mr Pratley then read the annual report, which was as follows: “We have had a comparatively quiet year, compared with the previous one, when we had several very important issues to engage our attention. I refer, particularly, to that of the prevention of the amalgamation in consolidation of special rates which, under existing circumstances, was not a just measure,” he said. “Another issue last year, for which we fought, wa© -the return of rates collected in excess of 'that required to pay interest and sinking fund on special loans. This surplus, I am pleased to say, is being refunded year by year to ratepayers by way of a lower general rate than would otherwise be the case. “Some ratepayers have been disappointed that the total rate level has not been reduced; to these I would point out that the only reason the total rate does not show a reduction is because the Catchment Board is a new rating body and the council has no control over the amount they levy. “A second reason is that the Hospital Board saw fit to raise their levy on the ratepayers; again the council has no say in this matter and as to what they would pay to this boai’d. The ‘two junior’ members of the Borough Council, however, did endeavour to secure a change and they caused a letter to be forwarded to the Hospital Board requesting a reduction in tha levy. The answer was almost abusive and the levy was not reduced, so you will now see that it is no fault of the men whom we supported at the last by-election that the rates have increased.

Matters Dealt With

“I wish to refer to the presidential address at the last general meeting. Towards the end of the address several proposals were mentioned to be taken up during the following year. These proposals were: (1) Abolition of zoning; (2) restoration of deliveries of essential commodities; (3) support for indue trial expansion; (4) town electrical power changes to encourage local industry; (5) interest-free loans to local bodies. “For your information. I report that all these matters have been dealt with during the year. The result of our efforts has not been as gratifying as we could wish. For example, the abolition of zoning was not being put into effect, because of the economic crisis and the petrol position uncertainty. Re restoration of deliveries, the Department of Internal Affairs advised that efforts to this end are being made, but that certain difficulties are in the way. In the matter of industrial expansion, linked with cheaper power and rail freights, the Minister, of Transport and Supply regrets his inability to accede to these requests. < „ . , “The two other matters of importance were dealt with during the year. One was that we endeavour to advance and support the effects of the Progress League to secure a better and more generous supply of citrus and imported fruiits. The supply is not yet up to our requirements, but we hope that a steady improvement will be forthcoming. The other matter was that of interest-free loans to local bodies this was advocated by your committee to the Borough Council which made a formal request to the Government through our local Member of Parliament It was felt that as the Reserve Bank and the Bank of New Zealand are State-controlled, a scheme of free loans might be, and, I think, is possible. Hospital Board Rates

“A final subject, and one which profoundly affects all ratepayers, has been brought up in committee, and has been the subject of a remit from the Borough Council to the South Island Municipal Conference. This remit was: ‘That consideration be given to the possibility of - hospital board levies on ratepayers being extended to become a change on incomes.’ As the matter now stands, ratepayers make up one-third of hospital board revenue by direct rates. The same people thus pay a second time, through Social Security charges, whi,ch is unjust in principle.” ' In conclusion the president emphasised that the association existed solely for the benefit of ratepayers, and that it could not do- its best work unless it had support by way of attendance at a general meetiing or meetings and financial help by becoming members.

The honorary secretary, Mr W. F. Halliburton, reported that, with donations received, it had been possible to balance the accounts for the year, after, starting off with a debt of £ll 11s.

On the motion of' Mr Halliburton, it was decided to recommend to the Borough Council, that, in view of the increased area of the borough, a separate valuer should be appointed to take over the valuation duties as at present carried out by the Town Clerk.