NEW BASIS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 56, Issue 32913, 24 September 1947, Page 11

NEW BASIS

HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES LOCAL COUNCILS LOSE DECISION OF THE MINISTER The long awaited basis of distribution of heavy traffic fees in the pool district for the past two years collections had been received from the Minister of Transport, reported the county clerk, Mr E. A. Mahoney, at the September meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council. The report added:— “ Had the distribution over the -past six years been made on the new basis, Hauraki Plains County would have received from the pool £49 less than was received under the former basis, so that this council is scarcely affected by the change. “It has now been established that boroughs and town boards have been profiting at the expense of county councils and Raglan County Council has proved its claim for a revision. “ The former basis of distribution was as follows: All local bodies retained 5 per cent of the collections for each year to cover administrative costs. After making this deduction counties retained a further 75 . per cent., cities and boroughs 55 per cent., and town boards 40 per cent, of the fees collected by them. The balances were pooled and distributed pro rata expenditure on roads and streets for the same year in which collections were made. Opinions at Conference “ At a conference of representatives of local bodies in this heavy traffic district, held at Hamilton on July 30, 1946, the writer moved-and Air Courtney, chairman of Thames County Council seconded that in future counties should retain 80 per cent, and cities, boroughs and town boards 35 per cent., and the balances be pooled for distribution as before. “ In effect this meant that on the collections for 1944-45, cities, boroughs and town boards would have released a further £2500 to the pool while counties would have retained a further £550. “ This motion was heavily defeated by 14 to five, many of the cOunty representatives opposing it. A motion by the mayors of Te Aroha and Morrinsville that counties retain 75 per cent, cities and boroughs 45 per cent, and town boards 35 per cent, was carried with four dissentients—Raglan, Hauraki Plains, Thames and Ohinemuri counties. The last named two subsequently' withdrew their opposition, but Raglan and Hauraki Plains stood out. Referred to Minister “ As unanimity was necessary to ob- I tain any settlement, the meeting ended in a deadlock with the result that the matter had to he referred to the Minister of Transport to make a distribution under the Heavy Traffic Regulations. These provide that after the deduction of 5 per cent, each local authority for administration, the total collections are to be pooled and distributed on a purely maintenance of roads and streets basis. A charge will be made by the Minister for making the new basis.” Those Who Lose Authorities who will lose under the new arrangement and the amount they will lose are as under:— £ Hamilton city ... 920.4 Cambridge borough 265.4 Te Awamutu borough 696.2 Morrinsville borough 374.2 Te Aroha 'borough 186.5 Paeroa borough 161.2 Waihi borough - - 8.6 Huntly borough 172.7 Matamata borough - 215.9 Thames borough 132.6 Leamington town board -- 308.8 Ohaupo town board ■ 31.9 Te Kauwhata town board 23 Putaruru town board — 446.2 Hauraki Plains county — 26.7 Those Who Benefit Authorities who will benefit under the new arrangement and the amount they will benefit are as under:— £ Ngaruawahia borough —. 31 Kihikihi town board 16.8 Waipa county 789.2 Waikato county 39.5 Raglan county 868.3 Piako county 1089.7 Matamata county 12.8 Thames county 636.4 Coromandel county 182.4 Ohinemuri county . 304.2

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