Mt Herbert Rates Increased

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32020, 21 June 1969, Page 14

Mt Herbert Rates Increased

An effort to avert an Increase in the rates failed by four votes to three at a meet* ing of the Mount Herbert County Council yesterday. When Cr c. E. Jenkins moved that the 0.7 c rate approved last month be struck, Cr R. F. G. Gardner moved an amendment that the rate be the same as last year, 0.675 c.

Cr Gardner said he agreed that if last year’s rate was retained, progress, particularly on road work, could be affected, but the council should took at the position from the ratepayers' point of view.

The proposed Increase would not affect the householder ratepayer by more than $4 or 85, but its effect would be much greater on the farmers and market gardeners who found most of the rates.

“It Is quite an effort for the farmers to And the money for rates,” said Cr Gardiner. “We have tied two calamitous years, the floods last year, the drought this year which, perhaps, has not yet taken its full toll.”

Seconding the amendment, Cr D. J. Blakely said the proposed increase was for plant replacement money, but by using the staff more efficiently, savings could be made. The council got exceptionally good reading subsidies and it seemed ironical that

it could not put aside $lOOO for plant, said Cr R. M. COop.

Cr Jenkins said the council had been struggling for years with decadent plant. Perhaps the rate increase should be higher to avoid another one next year. “Rates are this farm’s only income,” said Cr M. D. A. Radcliffe. “Repairs after the 1868 storm put our other work far behind and we paid $l7OO in repairs to two tractors.” Cr C. C. Manson said the plant was not in the best of health and the council had to do something about replacement.

“If we don't Increase rates we must be prepared to take things slowly,” said the chairman (Mr E. R. Radcliffe). “Would the council be justified in taking the drought effect on farmers as an urgent reason for not increasing the rate?" After the amendment had been defeated, the council confirmed, also by four votes to three, a rate Of 0.7 c, an increase of just under 4 per cent.