HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1929, 14 May 1888, Page 2

HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

AUDIT AND FINANCE

At the council meeting on Friday, the 11th instant, the Chairman said tbat assertions had been made that the accounts of the council were not kept in accordance with law. He had made enquiry into the matter, and could say that the accounts were kept as required by the new Counties Act. But they were not fully made up when one ratepayer had asked about them. Biding accounts were kept, but there were a number of items, such as the charge for shifting stone-crusher, the amount to be charged against Waimate riding for the re-metalling on that side of the Waingongoro; the proportion of foreman's salary; and of ordinary working expenses, which the clerk did not know, without instructions or special information, how to charge or apportion. He would move, That the Government be urged to send the Government auditor up, to certify to Ihe correctness of the county accounts, without delay. A letter was read from the Government, stating that the provincial district auditor having retired, tbe Government auditor would henceforth do the work. The council had nothing to conceal in the matter, and he rather invited enquiry and criticism into their affairs.

Councillor Parsons asked whether the balance sheet for the financial year should not be ready ?

The Clerk said that under ordinary circumstances the annual balance sheet would have been ready before May. But be had been out of health, and had been ordered by the doctor not to be out after dark. He had been in the habit of making up county accounts in the evenings when undisturbed bj visitors, but had, in consequence of ill-health, been unable to get as forward as he had wished. But tbe accounts would be ready for audit in a few days.

Councillor Forsyth supposed the balance sheet would be published, so that ratepayers would learn how the expenditure had been apportioned.

On reference to the Act, it was found that unless tbe balance sheet, together with auditor's report, were published within a definite time after audit, the chairman became personally liable for a penalty for non-compliance with the Act. Tbe resolution was carried.

Tbe question of recovery of rates was also brought up, and it was ascertained that each member of tbe council was liable to the ratepayers if proper Bteps were not taken to recover all outstanding rates. Councillors might be sued by any ratepayer who was anxious to see every man made to pay his share of the cost of roads.

CONTRACTORS' DEPOSITS.

It was resolved, That a separate ledger account be kept by the clerk to be called the contractors' deposit account.

SPECIAL ORDER.

The County Solicitor's opinion waß received in respect to tbe interpretation of sections 145 and 146 of the Counties Act.

Councillors were agreed that the opinion was scarcely definite enough to justify them in proceeding further m this matter. In the meantime the chairman was empowered to refer the matter to Wellington, and to obtain further advice on the point.

DIVISION OF COUNTY.

An informal discussion arose on the advisableness of the chairman calling special meetings to further consider the proposed merging of Waimate and Ngaire Road Boards in the County Council.

The Chairman said he should not move further in the matter himself, but there were others who would do so, and who felt strongly that the establishment of sole control by the county was the only way of getting rid of the dual system. He would take a direction from the council on the subject, if desired.

Councillor Godsal said he was distinctly in favor of having only one road-control-ling body within the county. Most unfortunately, as he thought, when the petition in favor of merging the Waimate Eoad Board in the County Council was almost completely signed last year, the chairman had propounded his scheme for metalling the Main South Koad at considerable expense cut of loan, and had said very little about other works. That bad scared settlers on the Plains, and especially those in the bush ; and counter petitions against the merging had been got up and numerously signed. It would be very difficult to reassure Waimate bush settlers that all parts of the district would henceforth receive fair treament from the council as to loans and other expenditure. He (Cr. Godsol) favored the management by the county, if it could be introduced on the Waimate.

The Chairman said he did not think that his proposals had been understood by or made clear to the ratepayers. He had never lost sight of the works required in the bush.

Councillor Parsons agreed with Councillor Godsal in thinking that the Chairman's proposals last year had prevented the merging being carried out. But all parties were now agreed that only one road controlling body was really required, and he was satisfied that if the bush settlers were assured that the county would not take money from the bush for expenditure on the open, they might yet agree to the merging. He objected to any subdivision of the county under which the Main South Eoad at the N.W. end of the county should be thrown on ratepayers at that end, but the financial divisions now agreed to had got over that difficulty, and he thought the merging into the council might perhaps be carried. Councillor Godkin moved and Councillor Godsal seconded, That the Chairman call public meetings of ratepayers at Manaia, Otakebo, and at Mr. Linn s on tbe Eltham road in Waimate riding, and at Ngaire and Stratford in the Ngaire riding, to further consider the question of merging the road boards in the County Council.

The resolution was carried unanimously, tbe Chairman undertaking to call the meetings about tb« time of full moon.