LOCAL AND GENERAL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4955, 13 February 1937, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The notice of the Wairere Power Board to strike a rate as security for the new loans being raised has caused several enquiries to be made at the office and of members of the Board. The answer is, of course, that there is a big difference between striking and levying a rate. This rate is struck as security to the debenture holders, guaranteeing their interest and repayments, but so long as the scheme can provide sufficient revenue to meet the annual charge on the loan, the rate will not be collected. Similar rates are struck when any Power Board raises loans—rates were struck in this way when the Wairere scheme first started, but have not been collected.

After a lapse of three years the Horticultural Show which was always a most successful venture sponsored by the St. Luke’s Anglican Church, is to be revived. Friday, March 5, has been fixed as the date of the function and a strong committee has been formed and the organisation is well in hand. Show schedules have been circulated to growers, and from reports received it is anticipated that there will be record entries. In addition to the. floral exhibits there will be stalls and sideshows, and the public can be assured of an excellent day’s entertainment.

The difficulty of having to maintain the County roads, and at the same time provide substantial sums to lift the grants for new metal was stressed by the Waitomo County Council yesterday. Unless the Government was prepared to be more liberal in making grants available, said Mr. W. A. Lee, trouble might be experienced in the future so far as grants were concerned. From 60 to 70 per cent, of the settlers were already heavily loaded for road construction with heavy rates, and in view of this he felt that the Government should be prepared to find a larger share of the cost of metalling. It was just a question whether ridings could find money to lift grant money and at the same time provide for adequate maintenance.

The question of the extension of the Government housing scheme into the Waitomo County area was discussed by the Council yesterday.' Cr. Crocombe brought the matter up, saying that many people at Pio Pio were saying that the County should take advantage of the Government's offer of money at a low. rate of interest for building purposes. He personally was not in favour of such a scheme, which he said put the ratepayers into the position of signing a “joint and several” on behalf of the people who who would occupy the houses. If the State was going to inaugurate such a scheme, then it should make itself responsible for the finance and not thrust the responsibility on to the settlers. The last provision appeared to be for the housing of settlers, who were more in need of decent housing accommodation than anybody. Mr. Lee, the chairman, said that even at Hangatiki he had been approached, and it had been stated that the Council was evading its responsibilities of providing a good type of house at a cheap rental. However, he was always of the opinion that the scheme was not applicable to counties. It was decided to write asking if the County Councils were to be responsible for the financing of the scheme, and what provisions there were for the building of farmers’ houses.