RATE COLLECTION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume VLI, Issue 3322, 24 April 1935, Page 7

RATE COLLECTION.

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY. 108 PER CENT. OF AMOUNT LEVIED. The total amount of rates levied for 1934-35 was £21,952, stated a report presented to the Hauraki Plains County Council at this month’s meeting, and the total amount collected was £23,775, including £2688 /special subsidy. Of this, £17,517 was current year or nearly 80 per cent. The balance of £6238 was arrears. The total collected on current and arrears was 108 per cent, of the amount levied for the year. Payments in Ridings.

The total general rate collected was £7499 and of this £7426 was trans-1 ferred to the credit of ridings. Most of the ridings are once again in a healthy condition and Waitakaruru, ■despite unforseen expenditure, which was not estimated for, has made a great recovery. A statement of riding balances is attached. The rever- • sals from debit to credit have been ■ effected mostly through economy . in the general account. In the riding accounts themselves councillors are to be congratulated on having in every -case kept strictly to their estimates. Another aid to the riding accounts has ■ been that estimates were based on a collection of 80 per cent., quite a sound proceeding in the present un-1 •certain times, but the collection con- | siderably exceeded this. The position i -at the beginning and at the end of the i financial year was as follows:—

Riding Expenditure. The expenditure of riding funds on highways and on other roads in the ridings was.as follows: —

Separate Accounts. — The West Water Supply Account now shows a credit of £lO4O as compared with £569 at the commencement of the year. Hospital account is £2177 in debit. Last year the.levy was increased but on account of an essential increase in some special rates the hospital rate was levied below requirements. Main Highway subsidy amounting to £3llO was received from the Board. Waitakaruru Drainage 1 Account shows a credit of £34 8s 2d, and when outstanding rates are considered it should not be necessary to levy a drainage rate for this year’s cleaning.

Interest Accounts. —I am glad to be able to report that special rates, except for one. or two minor amounts, yielded sufficient to meet all interest, principal and sinking fund charges on loans.

Bank Overdraft. —The bank overdraft at the beginning of the year was £10,012 and at the end of the year £3250. The cash-book balance which shows the true position was £9635 to commence, and' £2864 at the end. In addition there were liabilities outstanding against revenue at the beginning of the year, whereas there is nothing at the present. It is not necessary for me to tell the council how precarious the financial position was at the beginning of the past year. Administrative Salaries. — The percentage of administrative salaries to ordinary revenue was 1.77 per cent., and on total receipts 1.62 per cent.

Just a note of warning. Although the rate collection was good the county fund is still in debit, contrary

to what should be the case at this time of the year. The county is out of danger for the present but it will be very unwise that the improvement shown should lead to the conclusion that rates should be reduced this year. On the contrary, such a course should not be considered until the county fund is substantially in credit.

In conclusion I wish to express my thanks to the chairman and councillors for the consideration they have shown me during the past three years. The job of a chief executive officer of a county, especially where the outstanding rates are numerous, is ' a ■difficult one and particularly during the past year, with a heavy financial burden to overcome and with many new departures from the ordinary it has been anything but an easy task. Without the full support of the council it would, without doubt, have been an impossible one for any clerk. When the depression set in the council took a grave risk to assist its ratepayers and I am certain that this has been appreciated by the great majority.

Levied Collected Riding 1934-5-1934-5 Arrears Turua 3276 2592 600 Kopur’hi 1254 1094 257 Horahia 2000 1753 595 Ker’p’ehi 2212 1407 659 ■Netherton 2992 2378 837 Patetonga 1271 1001 302 Ngatea 3194 2626 839 Pipiroa 3023 2521 , 882 Waitak. 2727 2144 1266 Totals 21949 17516 6237 Riding Accounts.

At 1-4-34 At 31-3-35 Turua Cr. £123 . Cr. £201 jKopuarahi Dr. £62 Cr. £300. JSorahia Dr. £12 Cr. £555 Kerepeehi Dr. £715 Dr. £689

Netherton Dr. £23 Cr. £476 Patetonga Dr. £302 Cr. £68 Ngatea Dr. £426 Cr. £4 Pipiroa Dr. £74 Cr. £344 Waitakaruru .Dr. £922 Cr. £218

Riding Highways Other Roads Turua £100 £134 Kopuarahi £195 £244 ' Horahia £20 £310 Kerepeehi £56 £627 Nether ton £68 £250 Patetonga — £223 Ngatea £76 £543 Pipiroa £355 £133 Waitakaruru £194 £470