Malvern Rates Increase To Match Roads Board

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 7

Malvern Rates Increase To Match Roads Board

An increase of one-eighth of a penny to l|d will be made in the Malvern County Council’s rate this year to match increased money available from the National Roads Board on a four-year programme tied to Malvern’s pending amalgamation with Tawera county.

Notice of intention to strike a rate of l|d in the pound on the capital rate in both county ridings was given at a special meeting of the council yesterday. This represents an 11 per cent increase on top of a 35 per cent rise in 1965.

Estimates approved by the council were for a total expenditure of £267,578, compared with about £220,000 last year. Of the total, £140,400 is for work on roads and bridges, as compared with £87,403 last year. About 25 miles of new sealing are provided for, and of the total, the roads board will provide £94,445 in subsidy and grant. “It would be very bad business not to increase the rates to collect the increased amount available from the board,” said the chairman (Mr C. O. Redfern). “The best excuse we’ve ever

had,” said Cr. H. H. Deans. “After the four-year programme, we may be able to review the rates.” “Increase Essential”

A rate increase was essential, and the council would not' be acting in the best interests of the ratepayers if it did not avail itself of the favourable subsidy rates offered for new sealing work, said the County Clerk (Mr B. W. Perrin). Cr. G. E. Wright said that the council faced an ambitious programme but could carry it out. Rise Opposed

Cr. M. R. Voice opposed the increase, and suggested a rate of 1 3/16d for the Malvern area.

Of £68,550 provided for road work in the Courtenay and Sheffield ridings, £25,700 was allowed for new sealing, roads listed being Wrights, Bealey, McLachlans, Ridgens, Kimberley, Cullens, Whitecliffs, Darfield, Glentunnel and Sheffield. Major improvements were set at £lB,OOO, of which £12,000 was for work on Telegraph road. For Selwyn riding roads, £28,750 was provided, including £9OOO for more work on the Lake Coleridge road, and £B6OO for work on Haldon, Derretts and Downs roads. State Highway

It was proposed to spend £42,100 on State highway 72, between the Waimakariri and Rakaia Gorges. The vote included £23,000 for a new Hawkins river bridge and £12,000 for sealing extensions at Windwhistle. All money spent on the highway is recoverable from the Roads Board. In a £13,016 vote for new plant, provision was made for £llOO worth of radio-tele-phone sets for vehicle communications. The Malvern water-race district account was estimated

to be £7433 in debit at the end of his year, and a prospective debit of £1578 was shown for the.Snowdon-Horo-rata race. Costs on the waterrace system were estimated at £26,270, and the council agreed that the Malvern district position should be investigated.