THE RIVER RATE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 142, 1 June 1936, Page 7

THE RIVER RATE

! Board Requires £2000 More This Year EXPECTED INCREASE An increase by £2000 in the Hawke’s Bay Rivers Board’s rates for the ensuing year, to be levied on August 1, was decided upon by the board at its annual meeting, when it was agreed that the sum ot' £0000 be collected. Reference to the question of rates was made by the chairman ,Mr. C. Lassen, in his annual report. “The board, by the .strictest economy, has succeeded in keeping the expenditure to a very low level,” the chairman said. “With the advance in wages, and with interest and sinking fund that will be required ii. connection with the Ngaruroro loan, I. regret to say that the expenditure for the coining year cannot bo kept at the same low level. It will, therefore, bo essential to increase the rate from £7000 to £9000. I made this clear when addressing the ratepayers in connection with tile raising of the loan of £00,000. Our obligations are such that if the Ngaruroro river scheme could not be finalised, the provisions wo now propose to make for interest and sinking fund on the loan would of necessity have to bo transferred for maintenance work on the Ngaruroro and Tutaekuri rivers.” A credit balance of £379 13/11 as at the end of the financial year, March 31. excluding approximately £1200 owing on that date for outstanding rates, rents, etc., gives an indication of the financial position. The expendituie for the year, including outstanding accounts, was £10,820 C/8. The hoard's finances were commented upon by the chairman in his annual report. In regard to the Tutaekuri river control account, the expenditure for the year (including outstanding accounts) amounted to £32,677 6/3 and this, plus the expenditure from the commencement of the work of £13,30; 5/6, mqkes a total of £75,382 11/9 spent on the scheme work up to March 31 last, said Mr. Lassen. ' Discussing the board’s loans, Mr. Lassen said that these were, reduced by £2386 10/4 during the year and now total £49,876 15/4. This total includes the old Clive River Board loan of £10,263 5/8, which ceases to exist in 1941-42 and the earthquake loan of £11,COO.