COUNCILLORS’ VIEWS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32707, 1 May 1946, Page 7

COUNCILLORS’ VIEWS

QUESTION OF THE FUTURE RISE FEARED NEXT YEAR The chairman, Mr C. W. Parfitt, congratulated the clerk on his report. It was he said 1 , frankly critical and in some parts contradictory. He was doubtful that the 4d. rate could be maintained. He was afraid that the rate would have to be increased. He was very concerned at ending the present year with a debit balance of over £5,000. The enginee;- was asking that £6,000 be spent on the quarry next year. The position might work out alright at a 4d. rate, if relief was secured from the hospital levy. However, the following year would possibly mean a steep rise in rates and he thought portion of this should be borne this year. Cr. J. W. Neate: In spite of the drought. The. chairman: Yes, Cr. F. Pinchess asked which would be cheaper to the ratepayer. He thought that it might be cheaper to go into the overdraft for a time. The clerk said he thought the council should spar for time as the position was uncertain at present.

Cr. D. G. McMillan said the estimates only emphasised the serious position of the rural people. It was obvious that the value of the £ was not what it used to be. Farmers could not afford to meet the ever rising costs without they were paid a higher price for their produce. IHe criticised the Government in not considering the report by the (Select Committee on local body administration last year describing it as grossly unfair. •Continuing Mr McMillan asked that the council treat the position, with caution and as if the war was still on. Nobody wanted to go Mongonui.

: Cr. IF. Pinches: You will have to if you want to achieve anything. iCr. McMillan said he hoped not. He thought the matter should he dealt with in a practical way. The rural areas were being used to bear a burden more than could be reasonablv exnected.

' 'Cr. J. F. Mayn congratulated the clerk on his report. He urged caution and opposed the raising of the rate

especially at the present time, after the country had suffered a drought. He thought prices would ease in the future.

'Cr. A. H. 'Sutton said that during the war years the council had kept expenditure down to build up reserves for major work aftei’ the war. Now it seemed that the council was slipping into debt with roads in a bad state. He thought donations to domains, etc., had been made too freely with unsatisfactory results. Now the policy was go slow again with the hope that prices would fall. He thought such was wishful thinking. The clerk said the reserves were accumulated to do work already decided upon.

'Cr. G. W. Schultz said he thought the council should have a policy of road sealing’ for the future. This would mean; a saving in metal grading and manpower. Ci*. F. Fineness said he could not see prices falling while a 40-hour week operated.

'Cr. W. H. Cheale said the hospital rate was going to take half the rate this year. This meant that either the council must cut down on its; work or increase the rate. He could not agree that costs would come' dbwn. He thought that something would have to be done about hospital rates and in fact, all rates. ■Ci*. Neate congratulated the clerk on the outspoken nature of his report. He could not agree with the chairman that the report was in any way contradictory. He criticised the fact that the treasurer had not been consulted with regards certain work. Referring to the hospital levy he agreed that without some relief all county and borough councils would have to adopt the Mangonui decision, of refusing to levy rates. He urged that the council be cautious and he opposed any suggestion of a rise in rates in view of the difficult season just concluded. After a lengthy discussion Cr. Neate moved that a four-yard' truck be purchased at an approximate cost of £1250 and that provision be made on the estimate. This was seconded by Cr. Mayn and carried unanimously.

It was agreed on the" motion of Cr. Neate that a list of work in order of urgency be taken out by the clerk and engineer and presented to the next meeting.

It was decided to increase the price of metal from the quarry by 2/- per yard as recommended in the report. The chairman asked how the council proposed l to move and re-equip the quarry on a new site without lifting the rate. The clerk said that there would be £2OOO in the quarry reserve next year and there was an item’ of £2OOO this year for stripping whicli would not reoccur. He was sure the £6OOO needed next year for the quarry would be within the capacity of the council to finance. Cr. McMillan stated that if there was a possibility of a sharp increase in rates next year, he was in favour I’of a small .increase this year and thus spread the cost over'two years. ' After lengthy discussion the esti- | mates were adopted.