RATE CONSOLIDATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 296, 12 November 1934, Page 10

RATE CONSOLIDATION

POHANGINA COUNTY SUGGESTION PROPOSAL HELD OVER. After a brief discussion, the PolianSjna County Council, on Saturday, decided to hold over for a month a motion by Cr. J. Mackenzie aimed at the consolidation of the riding accounts as to general rates, the special rates to be left as at present. Cr, Mackenzie said he understood that the special rates would continue for certain loans. It was not fair that some settlers on a road should pay more for it than others on the same road. The ridings had been badly airportioned and the whole positon was unfair. The Kiwitea County Council and the AYoodville County Council had recently abolished ridings for rating, and the Oroua County had only two ridings for the accounts. The rate required for the Pohangiria County would be well under a half-penny in the £ to bring in the same income as the county had now. Each riding was in a good financial position and the councillors should look at the whole area, and not each at his own riding. The speaker said he would like to see a steady rate, about a half-penny, instead of having the rates fluctuate. There had been a suggestion that there be amalgamation of counties, but he would not go as far as that. Many were now within a few years of running out, and he did not think the special rates should be included in the consolidation.

In reply to Cr. W. T. Pratt, Cr. Mackenzie said he considered that such work as the building of new bridges should come out of the general fund. Some ridings had more bridges than others, said Cr. Pratt. Cr. Mackenzie then moved his motion.

The clerk (Mr A. E. Orgias) submitted a statement showing the effect of the amalgamation of the riding accounts. “For the year 1933 34,” said the statement, “the general rates levied were: Awahou riding, 4-16ths of a penny in the £ ; Coal Creek, 5-16ths; Mangaone, 4-16ths; Mangapikopiko, 6-16ths; Pohangina, 4-16tlis; Tamaki, 4-16ths; Umutoi, 10-16ths. The total general rates levied amounted to £1772. The rat© over the whole county to produce that amount would be 1.398 farthings, or just over 5-16 tbs of a Id. Year 1934 35, general rates levied in ridings: Awahou, 4-Bths of a penny; Coal Creek, 2-Bths; Mangaone, 3-Bths; Mangapikopiko, 3-Bths; Pohangina, 4-Bths; Tamaki, 4-Btlis; Umutoi, 4-Bths. The total general rate levied amounted to £2125 13s Bd. The rate over the whole county to produce that amount would be 1.678 farthings, or a little over fths of a Id. This rate would result in the following increases and decreases in total riding rates: Awahou, £52 16s 3d decrease; Coal Creek, £l2l 8s lid increase; Mangaone, £3l 5s 3d increase; Mangapikopiko, £42 3s 7d increase; Pohangina, £43 os 4d decrease; Tamaki, £33 8s lid decrease; Umutoi, £73 7s 4d decrease.

“The effect of amalgamation at the end of the current year, on this year’s estimates, would be that ridings would contribute to the general fund as follows : Awahou, £BB9 (including £6OO on bridge), 29 per cent; Coal Creek, £lsl, 4 per cent; Mangaone, £193, 6} per cent; Mangapikopiko, £390,12} per cent; Pohangina, £lB7, 6 per cent; Tamaki, £845 (including bridges), 271 per cent; Umutoi, £420 (including bridges), 13} per cent. “The consolidation of special rates would operate as follows: —Total special rates paid by ridings: Awahou, £490 2s sd; Coal Creek, £390 15s lid; Mangaone, £129 11s; Mangapikopiko. £330 11s 3d; Pohangina., £470 5s 9d; Tamaki, £328 18s sd; Umutoi, £5lO 15s 6d; total, £2651 0s 3d. The rate over the county to produce that amount (2.092 farthings) would result in the following amounts being paid by ridings : Awahou, £343 3s lid ; Coal Creek, £374 10s lOd; Mangaone, £461 4s 3d; Mangapikopiko, £495 16s; Pohangina, £2Bl 4s; Tamaki, £217 6s 4d ; Umutoi, £476 14s Id. Tha.t would bring about the following increases or decreases: Awahou, £146 18s 6d decrease; Coal Creek, £l6 5s Id decrease; Mangaone, £331 13s 3d increase; Mangapikopiko, £165 4s 9d increase; Pohangina, £lB9 Is 9d decrease; Tamaki, £lll 12s Id decrease; Umutoi, £34 Is 5d decrease. If the Treasury loans are not included, the position would be: Awahou, £37 18s decrease; Coal Creek, £ll 18s Id decrease; Mangaone, £lO7 14s Id increase; Mangapikopiko, £SO 5s 6d increase; Pohangina, £46 10s 4d decrease; Tamaki, £lO9 14s lid decrease; Umutoi, £43 6s 9d increase.” . The clerk added that a.t the present time those ridings with low rates were able to have the low rates only because they had the assistance of the other ridings. The change would mean easier office work and would facilitate auditing. The engineer (Mr D. Watson) said the change would make his work easier, although it would not be so marked as in the case of the clerk’s activities. Cr. W. Howell said he could not consider saddling the ratepayers of his riding with an extra amount of over £3OO, and so he could not consider the inclusion of the special loans. With regard to the general rate consolidation, he could see it would facilitate the council’s work. He would like to see something done. One factor to be considered was that of the state of repair of the roads and bridges in different sections of the county. One section might have kept their bridges and roads in good repair, whei-eas another section had not. The proposed change would equalise the burdens of the high and low country to a certain extent. The council should think as a whole. He considered that the matter should be held over for a month to allow councillors to consider the figures brought forward by the clerk. Cr. Pratt agreed with Cr. Howell as to holding the matter over. Cr. Mackenzie assented to this oourse. Cr. Howell congratulated the clerk on the manner in which he had presented the figures dealing with the subject, the speaker also expressing commendation for the amount of work done in preparing the report.