HUTT COUNTY RATES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 121, 25 May 1933, Page 19

HUTT COUNTY RATES

POSSIBLE REDUCTION

CHAIRMAN'S REVIEW

"The year has been a very trying one, but I am glad to bo able to stata that Me have kept withiu our income^ uo'twithstaudiua; that ive struck lower rates than in 1929-30, the last pre-sUimp j«ar, and collected only SG per- ceut. of the rates struck -us 'against 9(3 per cent. eoN looted in 1929:30," said D, R. llosgard, chairman of the Hutt County Council, at the, uunual meeting.of the council yesterJny, ■ With the continued lo^v• leve} of prices' for primnry. products, said Mr.' Hoggaru, the ratepayers- were iv need of further relief .in the rate burden, ainl he was happy to say that a. fur.th.ci- reduction was possible for the. current year. Whilst five years ago it was necessary to levy 70/100 d, in the £1 on ratepayers for general account expenditure it was estimated that 35/100 din the £1 would suffice for the current' year. This was due partly to increased receipts from sources other thau rates, and partly to reduced expenditure After five years' hard battling,the council succeeded in gettiug a substantially larger, though still inadequate, share of the heavy traflic fees. On the .expenditure side Uie council benefitted from reductions in salaries and wages, increased economies iv numerous directions, and the statutory interest reductions. The benefit from the statutory reduction in interest was not very great as the council had been moderate in its borrowings. It only meant about l-20th of a ld'ir. the £1 off the rates. Local bodies which had borrowed heavily scored an advantage over those who had been more conservative, not only in the iuterest reductions, but also from the fact that the Government paid special loan rates in certain cases where it would not pay ordinary rates. Consequently a local authority which- had perhaps entirely without justification converted a gravel or macadam road into one of higher class, gained a double advantage over, local authorities which were really more deserving of help. BRIDGES AND ROADS. "'Despite the substantial improvement in the general account there cannot be a proportionate reduction1 in. rates, as riding expenditure is-necessarily increased by the large volume of motor traffic now on theroads as compared with five years ago, resulting in hisher charges for'maintenance, notwithstanding the reduction in roadmen's wages, cost of metal,, and lorry transport,"' said Mr. Hoggard. . "The roads are now in good order, and it would be false economy to .allow them to fall to pieces. Our bridges" are a constant 6ourca ol anxiety. We have over a hundred bridges and many of them are very old and in a precarious state. The Mill Bridge at Karapoti was washed away during Easter, 1931, and was reconstructed last year. Another bridge on the same road is on the verge of collapse, but we are-, not i« _n position to renew this as the area served is vested in the Wellington City Corporation, and is exempt from rates. It is hoped that the Public Works Department will undertake the widening and extension of the Western Hutt Koad and the construction of a new bridge over the river near Silyerstream. Such a work is of national importance, trifling- local benefit, and far too costly for the already overburdened ratepayers of the ridings concerned to undertake. PUBLIC DEBT. "Our public debt now stands at '.£77,601 after deducting amount at credit of sinking fund. As all our loans have been raised in New Zealand, we are not adversely affected by the exchange rate. The antecedent liability loan of £8000 became due and £6190 'lifts been renewed ou table mortgage with 'the same holders at 4.G per cent, as agaiust the original 6% per cent. The-difference of £1310 was paid off out of the accumulated sinking, fund. Notwithstanding hqavier repayments of principal, this will meau a saving of £100 per anuum. The Day's Bay Road inscribed loan of £1697 will be extinguished in February next. This will cause a reduction of a further £76 iv ouv fixed charges nest financial year. RATING EXEMPTIONS, "The positipu with regard to ratcesemptiqns grows ivoree and worse. Over ouethird of the total area of the county is now entirely exempt from rates. Further areas are virtually exempt because of Government mortgages and the operation of section 52 of the Valuation of Land Act, 1923, which permits nominal values to be placed upon certain lands. We have asked the Government to give relief ill this connection, so far without result. "The position has become serious enough to shock the conscience of every reasonable minded man, and no doubt something will now be done."