HUGE OVERDRAFT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1937, Page 5

HUGE OVERDRAFT.

WAIAPU COUNTY DEBT

NATIVE RATES PROBLEM.

TOTAL OF £30,000 OWING.

(Prom Our Own Correspondent.) TOKOMARU BAY, Friday "Unless a substantial payment of rates comes in before the end of March we ohall find ourselves finishing the financial year with an overdraft of £13,837," said Mr. A. G. Hick* at a meeting of the Waiapu County Council. "We have over £30,000 worth of current and outstanding native rates, and this has accrued since 1930. The amount received in charging orders has Ix-en very small compared with the charging orders held.''

State assistance, «said Mr. Hicks, had become imperative in connection with the payment and collection of native rates. The council would he able to carry out no grant work* at all after April 1. unless native rates came in substantially. The council's financial position was due to three causes. They had not budgeted for enough to cover what they were committed to spend; very heavy flood damage costs had urixen; and native rates had not come in. ' "It will l>e tlie highest overdraft as: at March 31 for many years," Mr. Hickn continued. "In fact, on going through the balance-sheets I cannot find: a parallel. Had the native rate* been' paid the council's position would have been a very different one to-day." It was disclosed that on Febrtiary 0 the council's overdraft was £14,23.~». The month'* accounts amounted to £3458 and only £3">fl had since come in. I It was estimated that the overdraft atj the end of February would l>e £13.837. including grants to l>e refunded. "That show* how hopeless the po*i-| tion is," said Mr. Denys Williams, chairman. "It strengthens our hand in' continuing to represent to the (iovernment the necessity -for native rating reform." j

Mr. A. O. Hultquist, M.P., telegraphed that he is endeavouring to arrange for the Hon. F. Lan<jstone, acting-Native Minister, to receive a deputation from the council 011 the native rating question. A second telegram, from the Hon. F. Langstone hinmelf at Kohukohu, expressed the Minister's willingness to meet the council during his visit to the Bay of Plenty electorate, probably at the end of March or ApriL