WAIAPU COUNTY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20257, 27 May 1940, Page 5

WAIAPU COUNTY

MR. WILLIAMS CHAIRMAN RE-ELECTED UNOPPOSED GOOD RATE COLLECTIONS (Ileralil Correspondent.) At the annual meeting of the Waiapu County Council, Mr. D. W. W. Williams was re-elected chairman unopposed, and was accorded the thanks of the council for his efficiency and attention to duties during the past year. In reply, Mr. Williams spoke of the hearty co-operation and goodwill that prevailed in the council. In a review of the council’s operations during the year, the chairman reported that the gross expenditure was £60,589, compared With £69,322 the previous year. The council had budgeted for a deficit of £1696, but the year had ended with a credit balance of £879, this being made possible by certain grant works in the estimates not being carried out and also a collection of a greater percentage of rates, together with certain sundry receipts which realised more than provided for in the estimates. Of the total expenditure during the past year, grant works absorbed £17,364, district road maintenance £9502, and highways maintenance £5442, while flood damage restoration on district roads totalled £3OBI and on highways £355. Flood Damage Expenditure The gross expenditure on flood damage from February, 19'38, to March 31, 1940, was £21,615, of which £6649 was provided by the council and £16,311 from grants. A total of £1044 of grant money had yet to be paid. The council’s proportion of the expenditure was found by £3614 from revenue and £.3035 from loan. The flood damage to roads had been completed, with the exception of that in 'l’apuaeroa Valley, while a bridge and road deviation Were required. It was hoped to put those works in hand in the near future. The rate collection during the past year was a record for the council. Total payments were 89.43 per cent of the amount struck, an improvement of 1.97 per cent over 1938-39. Europeans paid 98.12 per cent of their rates, an improvement of 1.1 per cent, and the natives 75.28 per cent, an improvement of 3.62 per cent on the previous year. The rates levied totalled £30,436, and £27,243 was paid. In addition, £2848 of arrears were collected. Commendable Effort “This collection is a very commendable effort by both European and native ratepayers,” Mr. Williams said, “and reflects particularly the growing response of the native ratepayer to his responsibilities, with a consequent improvement in the finances of the county available for various work and services.” The co-operation of officers of the Native Department, Gisborne, contributed largely to the favourable position regarding native rates. Rates outstanding on March 31 totalled £27,379, compared with £27,925 12 months previously. Mention was made of the enlistment of Mr. A. G. Hultquist, M.P., and the chairman took the opportunity of placing on record . appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the district by their Parliamentary representative, who had proved himself an indefatiguable worker in the council’s interests. Mr. R. G. Sherwood Hale, a member for the Tokomaru riding, also had joined His Majesty’s forces, and was with the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Levin, while Mr. A. R. Knights, health inspector for the district, was in camp at Papakura.