ASHLEY RIVER RATES

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25537, 3 July 1948, Page 2

ASHLEY RIVER RATES

CATCHMENT board DISCUSSION “County Councils are getting fidgety about our powers and about the heavy rates we are putting on,” said Mr C. S. Ayers, at a meeting of the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday, when he asked that the old rates for the Ashley River Trust be reinstated. The rate which was to be struck for this year was 15-25 d, which was almost equal, to the general rate for the Rangiora County, he said.

“It is not fair to bank up money. At the present time we have £l2OO as a nest egg,” Mr Ayers said. The Rangiora borough had been revalued, with a resulting rise in valuation of £281,670, and a new valuation of the Rangiora County would be made next year. It would- be far better for the board to keep the rate level, as more than the amount of the present estimate could be collected in the next two years, Mr Ayers added. “If we could see our way to keeping the river rate the san?e as last year, we would have the thanks of the county and it would pay us in goodwill for our future policy,” he continued. “Every prudence dictated that we should deal with the rate as we have done,” said the chairman of the board (Mr W. Machin). “Our rating has been low, the work has been carried out in the most economical manner, and in our general finance we have exercised the greatest prudence.” If the Rangiora Borough had any real objections on the matter he felt sure that the board would have heard direct from them. “The Rangiora Borough has a long tradition of objections and I think we should take them at their face value,” he added. Because of the amount of work to be done and because of the vagaries of the Ashley river it was felt wise to maintain the “nest egg” referred to, Mr Machin said. The board, by formal resolution, confirmed its rates. Mr Ayers asked that his vote against the resolution be recorded.