WEST COAST COUNTIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 March 1914, Page 6

WEST COAST COUNTIES

STATISTICAL INFORMATION. The annual statistics of New Zealand Counties for ihe yea.r ended March, 1913, are before us, and although the information is a year old, it is none the less interesting from a comparative point of view, serving as it does the opportunity to review local conditions under a similar system of administration. There are now five Counties on the West Coast, namely Buller, Murchison. Inangahua, Grey and Westland, and it is to these bodies more directly we wish to turn attention. Westland is easily the largest County, containing 4,420 square miles, an area well worth remembering as indicative of the extent of the charge which falls upon the local County Council. The next County in area is that of Buller, 1818 square miles, comparative figures with West land, which more markedly emphasises the scope of country for the attention of the local body. Murchison ranges next, then Grey, and finally Inangahua, 741 square miles. Grey takes pride of place in population, 7.202, Buller 6,682, Inangahua 4,505, Westland 4,274, and Murchison 1,014. Buller, Murchison and Inangahua rate on the unimproved value, and Grey and Westland on the capital value. The three more nothern counties have special rates, but Grey and Westland have one general rate only. The general rate in Buller is sd, Murchison 3j[d, and Inangahua 6d, all on the unimproved value. Grey has a l§d rate as against ljsd in Westland, capital value. As rating on unimproved values is likely to come prominently before the Westland ratepayers this year, the following facts in regard to rating figures will be of some interest. Buller for instance has an improved rateable value of £408,272; Murchison, £118,596; Inangahua £113,698; Grey (capital rating value) £547,533, (unimproved £272,313); Westland (capital rating value) £421,238, (unimproved £238,647). The rates collected (including special rates in the three most northern counties) were:—Buller, £5 826; Murchison, £1,232; Inangahua, £6,058: Grey, £4,449; Westland, £2,838. This shows that both in respect to area and rateable returns, what a good light the Westland ratepayers stand in. In local revenue from other sources the figures are:— Inangahua, £2.741; Buller, £1,496; Grey £897; Westland, £825; Murchison £lB2 ; receipts through Government channels (other than grants) were: Grey, £4,714 ; Westland, £4,616; Inangahua, £2,275; Buller, £2,029; Murchison, £BOI. The totals of local revenue were therefore:—lnangahua, £11,076; Grev, £10,061; Buller, £9,353; Westland, £8,330; Murchison, £2 216 Grants were as follows: Westland, £11,374; Buller, £10,212; Grey £8,219; Inangahua, £7,053; Murchison, £3,312. The total receipts for the year thus aggregated :—Westland, £1*9,705; Buller, £19,565; Grey, £18,281; Inangahua, £18,129 ; Murchison £5,528. On the expenditure side, oil public works, Westland again led with £16,177 ; Buller was £15,951 ; Grey £14,311: Inangahua £14,655, and MurcMsoii Westland also leads, the totals being :—Westland, £1,716 ; Inangahua, £1,150 ; Grey. £9/0 ; Buller, £856 ; and Murciiison, £159. In maaiagement charges Buller leads the way with a total of £1,932 ; Grey was £1,822 ; Inangahua, £1,722; Westland, £1,160; and Murchj.soll, £722. The percentage of the cost of management in relation to the volume of receipts, show that while it is less than six per cent, in Westland, it rises to nine, and ten per cent, and over in the other counties. In interest on loans and overdrafts, Inangahua paid £1,303; Buller, £705; Grey, £603; Westland, £343; and Murchison, £l2B. Miscellaneous expenditure was £1,528 in Buller ; £502 in Westland ; and £53 in Murchison. The totals of the expenditure were: — Buller £20,974; Westland, £19,900; Inangahua, £18,836; Grey, £18,212; Murclison, £4,441. In relation to revenue therefore Murchison showed a credit for the year of £1,087, and Grey £69. Westland was to debit £195 ; Inangahua, £707; and Buller £1,409. In the matter of assets and liabilities. Buller had £3,395 assets, and £10,780 liabilities; Inangahua, £5,377 and £11,030; Grov, £4,685 and £7,047; Westland, £2,524 and £9,519; Murchison, £875 and £3,992.