OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 105, 4 May 1923, Page 7

OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL BEPORT. .! Our Own Correspondent.) PAEROA, Thursday. The Ohinemurl County Council held their final meeting to-day. Only minor matters were dealt with. The chairman presented his annul report, which in part reads as follows:— "Thanks to the policy of careful economy which the council, under the chairmanship of lir. Grace, had already Initiated, our flnauces were perhaps In a better position than those of some other local bodies who had failed to observe the signs of the times, and during our term of office it will be seen from the figures, which I shall quote, that the council's affairs have been so administered that, whllo carrying out all the works necessary for keeping the county roads in good condition for ordinnry traffic, and also effecting considerable improvements to existing roads, such econoniv has been observed that the financial position to-day is considerably better than It wns three years auo. In November, 1020. the liability of the county fund for overdraft, unpresented cheques and contract HaMlites was fGO2O. To-day the liability stands at £340G 15/5, made up of the amount of the loan raised for repayment of the "antecedent liability," £4200, less the credit' balance at the bank (after allowing for unpreseuted cheques), £733 4/7. This, I think, you will admit is a very satisfactory position. There are, of course, woris or great importance in the county which have had to be shelved for want of funds, and whlr-h can only be dealt with by the raising of loans. The council has felt that the conditions have not, in the past, been favourable for financial operations In thle direction, is now becoming more plentiful, and there is no uoubt that, the new council will see Its way to carry out haps the niost important of these is the everroeurrlnjr problem of the main roads. As long as the (Jovernment is hesitating over what It is definitely going to do in the matter. It Is difficult for local bodies to act, but most certainly action cannot be deferred much longer, and the council coming into office will have to face the matter. An important matter dealt with last year was the alteration of the boundaries of the ridings, and readjustment of representation. As you are aware, the matter was carefully gone into, and the new Hiding or Waihi was created from portions of Waitckaurl and Waikiuo Hidings; two other ridings were given two representatives eacli instead of one us heretofore. Although this alteration takes effect at once as far aa representation is concerned, and the incoming council will consist of nine members instead of six as at present, the law provides that no new ridings accounts will be (ineued until after the end of the present Onaclal year. I wish to thank my fellow councillors, the engineer and the office staff, for the whole hearted support which they have always given to mc as chairman, and without which it would have been quite impossible to carry on the affairs of the council as satisfactorily as has been done."