COUNTY COUNCILS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21806, 11 June 1936, Page 10

COUNTY COUNCILS

WAIPARA The annual meeting of the Waipara County Council was held, there being present: Messrs W. K. McAlpine (chairman), R. I. Black, A. Cowie, D. S. Mackenzie, and J. Quigley. Mr W. K. McAlpine, chairman during the previous term, submitted his report on the activities of the council during the year. After reviewing political conditions and their possible effect on local authorities, especially from a financial point of view, the report, dealt with the progress of work. For the year 1935-36 the new valuations were in force, and to produce approximately the same revenue it had been necessary to levy a general rate of 3d in the £ on the reduced rateable value of £3,026,000. The reduction in rateable value, taking the county as a whole, had been 15$ per cent. Outstanding rates at March 31 amounted to £759. The total receipts for the year just ended had amounted to £21,M61, compared with £20,562 for the previous year. . Expenditure; including provision for depreciation of plant, had amounted to £21,082 (the previous year, £20,717), and was summarised as follows: Administration (including £4OO non-recurring) £1699, works £11,258, interest and loan charges £2900, hospital levy £3677, miscellaneous, including purchase of new motor plant, £1548, The expenditure on main and secondary highways during the year had been £5269, and on all other roads £3700.

The report stated that at the commencement of the financial • year the public debt had stood at £28,694 net after deducting the amount of accrued sinking funds. Pursuant to empower, ing legislation, during the year eight loans, aggregating £25,475, had been converted to two loans totalling £24,540 bearing interest at the reduced rata o ii per cent, per annum, the difference of £935 having been repaid to debenture holders out of sinking funds, from which were paid also all premiums incurred as a result of the conversion. The net loan indebtedness of the county at t e end of the financial year amounted to £28,654. Before conversion the annual charges on the public debt were £2175. For the next five years they would be £2112, and thereafter until 1963, when all loans would have been repaid, would be £lßl2. The total cost of the conversion operations had been* £l4O 7s 6d. Mr W. K. McAlpine, the retiring chairman, was unanimously re-elected. Mr A. Cowie was elected,deputy-chair-man, and Messrs Cowie and Quigley as finance committee. At the monthly meeting the. county clerk and treasurer reported that the county fund account now stood in credit £1465 8s 6d. The Akaroa C .unty Council wrote asking for support in protesting against the inclusion of council employees in a general labourers’ award covering the whole of the Dominion. Members agreed that there should be a separate award for county employees onlv and the clerk was instructed lo forward this decision to the Government.

The chairman xplained the acts at present under consideration affecting the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and their probable effect on the country districts. The council considered that the provisions of the acts were not in the best interests of either Christchurch or the country districts, and on these grounds it was decided to protest emphatically against the proposals. A letter was received from the Minister for Public Works stating that an estimate of the cost of building two bridges to serve the Lake Sumner area would be prepared and the proposal given consideration. TAWERA. The last meeting of the Tawera County Council was held, when there were present; Mr R. M. D. Johnson (chairman). Crs. F. M. Gladstone Robinson, H. C. Amyes. J. K. McAlpine, H. Milliken. H. A. Millar, and A. Duncan.

In his annual report the chairman said that the financial position of the county was more satisfactory than was the case at the close of the previous iycar. although the rates had been kept as low as poss ; ble. Several matters involving expenditure had, however, been held over, and there would have to bo attended to during the current year. Mr R. M. D. Johnson was unanimously re-elected chairman for the ensuing year.

Mr J. G. Thompson wrote drawing attention to the necessity for repairs to the decking of the Mount White bridge. It was decided to have this attended to. A grant of £5 was made towards the St. John Ambulance Association. Advice was received that arrangements were being made for a further release of the white butterfly parasite in affected districts as soon as supplies were available. The estimates for the current year were approved and notice of motion given that a total general rate of 9-16 d in the £ be struck. It was resolved to restore the cuts made in salaries and wages.' i j MACKENZIE The mpnthly and annual meetings of the Mackenzie County Council were held in Fairlie with Mr C. J. Talbot presiding. Mr Talbot was unanimously elected chairman. Mr Geo. Murray was appointed to represent the council at a comnliment. ary social to Mr D. Barnes, M.P. Committees appointed were as follows: —Albury cemetery, Messrs T. E. Bt ley, W. R. Davidson, W. O’Reilly, and P. Kidd; Fairlie cernptery, Messrs W. Bray, J. Caskey, W. Gallen, and P. E. Neilson: Burke’s Pass cemetery, Messrs Geo. Murray, E. Clarke, R. Green, and G. Ross; athletic grounds, Messrs C. J. Talbot and P ■ E. Neilson: firewood committee, Messrs A. F. Campbell and P. E. Neilson;- Fairlie Fire Board representatives. Messrs C. J. Talbot and P. E. Neilson. The financial statement for the month showed a debit balance at the bank of £6393 17s Bd, and the day’s pay-sheet amounted to £2804 3s 7d. Receipts for the month totalled £826 7s Id.