MANUKAU COUNTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1932, Page 12

MANUKAU COUNTY.

For the tenth year in succession Mr. P. M. Waters has been re-elected to the position of chairman of the Manukau County Council. It is his sixteenth year as a member of the council.

In his report Mr. Waters stated that the end of the financial year was reached without seriously affecting the county finances. Owing to the fact that several interest accounts and the hospital and charitable aid account were in sound positions, it was possible to reduce county rates by approximately £4500 last year, but it would be necessary to consider carefully the economic aspect from the view point of adequate road maintenance, when levyins rates for the current year. This, of course, might apply to some ridings more than others, but generally speaking the matter was one of policy and must therefore be considered from a county point of view. The condition of the roads generally was very satisfactory. Total expenditure amounted to £80,917, as against £87,096 the previous year. The sum of £6403 was received from the Main Highways Board during the year for the construction and maintenance of main highways and bridges thereon, and £1958 from the Public Works Department by way of Government grant, both items being less than the amount received the previous year. Unemployment relief works In the county had absorbed £12,296 in wages during the twelve months, and this amount was refunded by the Unemployment Board. ~ ~ The chairman said the building permits for the year ended March 31, 1932, totalled £20,237, as compared with £40,91b last year.