BOROUGH COUNCIL RATES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22343, 5 March 1938, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL RATES

GREYMOUTH'S POSITION PRAISED COMPARISON MADE WITH OTHER TOWNS That, in the matter of outstanding rates. Greymouth. with only £IOOO unpaid to-day, compared more than favourably with any other borough, was a claim made by Cr. F. Boustridge, at the monthly meeting of the • Greymouth Borough Council on Thursday night. The Mayor CMr W. Meldrum) Di*csid6c3. A variety of accusations, said Cr. Boustridge. chairman of the outstanding revenue committee, had been to the effect that about £12.000 or £13,000 was outstanding in rates, but that was incorrect. Outstanding rates were not to be confused with outstanding revenue, totalling £12,500, which included gasworks, unemployment loans, and other items. Rates outstanding at March 31, 1937. totalled £4640, and it was proposed that the council should now write-off £667, which covered the period back to 1924. For the Grey area, the amount to, be written off was £433, and for the Cobden area £234. This was because of people having left the district, over-charges, and errors, and covered 14 years. For the last six years, continued Cr. Boustridge, the percentages of outstanding rates had been—l 932, 11.25 per cent.; 1933. -11.30 per cent.; 1934, 10.27 per cent.; 1935, 9.7 per cent.; 1936, 7.51 per cent.; arid 1937, 6.78 per cent. This placed Greymouth in a very favourable position compared with other towns such as virke 8.6, New Brighton 17.72, Gisbbrne 19.8. and Levin 6.42. Cr. Boustridge . stated that the £12,500, mentioned as outstanding in the revenue account, was at the peak of the financial year and would be brought down to a minimum before the year ended. A great deal of it represented current accounts for the gasworks and abattoirs, which were certain to be collected. The council decided to write-off the amount mentioned and to sue for all rates outstanding and owing for two years, this to include rates owing up to the end of March, 1938. EMPLOYMENT AT GREYMOUTH That 13 single men and 15 married men were employed by the Greymouth Borough Council last week under the No. 5 scheme was the report supplied by the Borough Engineer (Mr A. J. Fairmaid) to the monthly meeting of the council held on Thursday night. In addition, the engineer reported, 37 men were employed on a subsidy of £2 5s weekly. 15 men on a subsidy of £4 weekly, and one man on a subsidy of £2 10. s weekly, from the Employment Promotion Fund. WEST COAST FARMERS TO TOUR VISIT TO NORTH ISLAND IN JUNE Preliminary arrangements have been made for a tour of the east coast of the North Island, via Napier, Gisborne, Whakatane. and possibly Auckland, by a party of West Coast farmers in June, according to advice received by the secretary of the West Coast Farmers" Union (Mr J. Mulcare) from the railways business agent (Mr H. Langford). Leading studmasters and farmers in Hawke's Bay have extended invitations to the party. CONTRACT LET GREYMOUTH-WEHEKA ROAD DEVIATION The Public Works Department has let a contract to West Coast United Contractors, Ltd., for the construction of the Mont d'Or deviation in the borough of Ross, on the Greymouth-Wc-hcka State highway. The contract price is £2408 15s lOd. The work involves the building of 75. chains of new highway, and includes 2737 cubic yards of filling, more than 3000 cubic yards of metal, 140 chains of fencing, and 1000 lineal feet in culverts. DENNISTON CHURCH SOCIAL Many members of the Young Worshippers' League and several adults attended the annual prize-giving social held by the Denniston Presbyterian Church committee. The Rev. A. Lennox presided. The prizes were presented by Mr W. Cummings, one of the oldest member of the church at Denniston. I