EGMONT COUNTY RATES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 15 June 1927, Page 6

EGMONT COUNTY RATES.

ECONOMICAL POLICY NECESSARY The need' for economy was stressed at the Egmont County Council meeting yesterday, when the question of rates for the ensuing year was being reviewed. Alem.bers thought it was absolutely necessary to keep the rates u>s low as. possible in view of the general financial stringency. After a general discussion it was decided to- levy* the same irate as last year in the Oeo, Opua and New all ridings, but to- increase the Rahotu rate by a farthing, which will give that riding an additional £413. Estimates submitted by the clerk (Mr G. AV. Rogers) showed that the estimated expenditure for the ensuing year was £18,005 3s Id, made up of administration £1940, miscellaneous £9ll, main highways £4075, revision of valuation roll £2o, interest on special loans £6464 4s lOd, sinking fund £695 ss, repayment of debentures ((antecedent Liability loan and bridge loan) £944 13s 3d. . This had been allocated among the rkliiiigs oil valuation basis iiwi follows: O'eo, £5688, Opua, £4418, Rahotu £4451 and XeWailL £3448.

The estimated liabilities of the respective ridings were as follow: O'eo.—Debit at March 31, £166 2s 6d; proportion general expenditure, £5688; special rates, £142; estimates for by-roads, £500; less proportion ol Government .subsidy, £363; anti rates outstanding £617 Its lOd; leaving £5416 12s 4cl required. Oipua—Debit at Alareh 31, £1709 18s; proportion general expenditure, £4418; estimates by-roads, £1260; Jess proportion of Government .subsidy, £232; and rates outstanding £821; leaving £6334 18s required. Rahotu. —Debit (ait Alia roll 31, £662 11s Id; proportion of general expenditure, £4451; refund road reconstruction loan account, £lO9 i()s 4d; estimates for by-rolads, £1240; less proportion. Government subsidy, £245; and outstanding rates £652; leaving £5566 Is 5d required. / New all Riding—Debit balance, £1472 Is 3d; .proportion general expenditure, £3448; estimates for by-roads, £640; less proportion Government .subsidy, £202; and outstanding rates, £517; leaving £4841 Is 3c! required. The clerk pointed out that on the total cta.pital value of the county (£1,604,728) it required a rate of 1 4-19 d to meet the annual charges on sinking fund and interest. A little of this, the (antecedent liability (£825) would not be recurring.

Cr. To s land stressed the necessity of keeping the rate down as low as possi b le. After discussion it was decided to give notice, of Intention, to.- strike a rate ms follows: Oeo. Biding, 2 l-8d ; Opuia, Biding, 2 5-Sd; Rahotu Riding, 21 cl; Xewail Biding. 2 5-Bd. There would he an additional 3-Bcl hospital rate over the, whole county. Last year the rate was: Oeo, 2 1-Sd; O'puia. 2 5-8 c l; Raibotu, 2Jd ; Xewail. 2 5-Sd ; with the (additional 3-8 d hospital Pate in each case. The council held- ~a lengthy dismission on ways and means of reducing expenses, nod it Was decided to. leave the matter of the: disposal of the two big motor lorries to the chairman and engineer.