OROUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2499, 9 November 1914, Page 1

OROUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

LAST MONTHLY MEETING. !

Cr. Hugh Burrell presided at tho monthly meeting of the Onto County Council held on Friday. CORRESPONDENCE.

Letters were received, from the following:— A.M.P. Society, ro loan from that Society, forwarding cancelled coupons tor interest paid. Wanganui County Council, asking for information dealing with tho matter of salaries of Engineer and clerical staff.

Public Works .Department, re boundary -road between Manawatu and Oroua counties, stating that an application had been received from tho Manawatu County Council lor awarrant vesting the control of that portion of the boundary road between this Council and the Manawatu County and apportioning the cost of maintenance and construction equally between this Council and the Manawatu County Council, and asking if tho Council has any objection to a warrant beiug issued as applied for by Manawatu County Council. The Council concluded the best way out of the difficulty regarding this road would be for each Council to take half and wholly maintain it. The chairman and the engineer were asked lo take the matter iv hand with a view to carrying out that proposal. Treasury, forwarding the sum of Tjs on account of golcliields revenue. Mr D. It. Guthrie, M.P.. forwarding Public "Works Estimates and .Public Works Statement. REVIEW OK THE YEAR. Tho Chairman, in proposing the striking of a supplementary general rate of 1-Oth of a penny in tho £, said some years ago the Council raised a loan to pay oil the then existing* overdraft, consequently it could not now .legally have an. overdraft greater than the revenue accruing. The motion was to make provision for a contingent revenue, which lie did- not anticipate the Council -would nerd to avail itself of.

The motion having been, passed, the Chairman said, as this was Ihe lastmeeting of the year and also of tinpresent Council, and especially in view of a- letter that had been published concerning the financial position of the Council, he wished to say a few words on the latter subject. There was at the present time an uncollected revenue of £4071, and as fin; bank overdraft was but C2BI, there remained £1600. There was but live months to go, and estimating an expenditure of ~I'oUU per month as suiIj.cient would leave a surplus for the year, less the uncollected revenue. Tlie large sums expended appeared Lo frighten some of tho ratepayers and make them suppose; that economy was not one of the guiding principles of the Council, but as a matter of fact the contribution last year to the Hospital Board alone amounted to 1:2024, and as a contrast he would point' out that the total rate, paid iv tlie county in ISO 7 only amounted to L' 2172, Equally great had been tho increase of expenditure in oth">r ways, particularly in road maintenance; :uw\ under tlio circumstances lie saw tittle prospect of a reduction in the general rate. At the present lime the indebtedness of the ridings was: .Mangaone L'l-Vj 1.75, Ivanjdtawa £187 1.4s yd, Kaumanga £2io 17s Kid, Taonui £-101 ](js lid. (Ma--ngaki £082 10s Bd, Hiwinui £1.1. i:/-12s Od. Makino, credit, £782 lis 4d. \\] reply to Cr. Murphy, the Chairman said it was true, the large overdraft of his riding had been created before Cr. Murphy took his seat on the Council, lie saw no oilier means of reducing it than by keeping down the expenditure as low as possible consistent with keeping the roads in a fairly good condition, lie recognised that there should he a rearrangement of the boundaries of foin ' of tho ridings on the right bank of the river, so as to heller equalise flurevenue, but that could not be under- ; taken until two years next March. \ One mistake he would admit had . been made, paying for bridge work j out of revenno, and he had counselled Unit course, but he could safely say that whatever error bad been made the Councillors individually and collectively had always worked conscientiously for tho good of the county. He desired to thank the stall for their attention in carrying out their duties so well. They had given every satisfaction in their work, and conso- ' (piently it had helped to render his ' duties as chairman one of pleasure rather than of trouble. He wished also to thank the members of the Council for their courtesy and assistance tii him at all times in the carrying out of his duties. Also to say that in the council there was a body of business men who took a thorough interest in the work of their ridings. Cr. Morrison thanked the Chairman on behalf of himself and other members for the courtesy he had always shown to the members, and said thai though they had had differences in respect'lo the administration I hey were none the less good friends for that. In regard lo the payment for bridge work out of revenue, he had opposed it chiefly for the- reason that it was better for the Council to raise loans for such work, as if could do so for about 5 per cent-., whereas some farmers iv some ca.-es bad lo pay as high as 10 per cent. Cr. Morrison concluded by expressing his regret that Cr. Maedonald did not intend to stand for re-election. Cr. Morrison also complimented the stall' on (lie good work done. ICr. ' Murphy endorsed the remarks of Cr. Morrison in. respect (o his reference (o the Chairman. and Cr. j Maedonald.

Cr. MeElreV spuke to Ihe same ell'e.-t, a.Jld said ll.' hoped ihe i. ■■■!.-. would eouie when Cv. Maeduliald would aj'.aiu becouie a nieiiiber of the Con noil. Cr. Mae-doiiald. said .his retirement was due entirely to the f; H -l;. Hiafc he had I'ouud that lie could not properly do his own business and attend to pilUie business as \iel[. THEA.SniI'IU'S REPORT.

Gi-irtml rales 1.-\ic ( l. l!)l.'Vl!l| I, LV)7I2 l-js 7.1; .•..11cci,.,!. .C.V-,71 HU ■lil; oiit-ihindiim; -C 14.1. -V, :?<]. Gc'MM-al i-a1«... s levied |!Ji-l-l!)l*i, i;li!2;i 2s; c<,Heeled, LMiIDM -ly M; uiiL-staiidiiiLr, L 1.421 I7 M !>d. liank .Ihilaiiees. Cmiiity (''mill A«'----<-«ti. iu« dr., £2'iH[. :!s Id; Interest Aeninnl, ei-., fj-'i!l."i Lis S<l : Arii)iala Rna>ls l,()fin, cr., (;2L Ss 2d; Siberia Roads Lean, er., 1:75 13s Id.