Woodville County

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 124, 27 May 1937, Page 2

Woodville County

CHAIRMAN REVIEWS YEAR

SOUND POSITION REVEALED^

The following report on the year’s operations was submitted by the chairman (Capt. M. O. Grainger) at the annual meeting of tho Woodville County Council yesterday: — Receipts and Expenditure Tho total receipts from all sources were £10,451 18s. The total expenditure was £10,304 14s sd. Tho outstanding rates and rents at March 31 were £293 12s Id, as against £297 18s 9d on March 31, 1936. Riding Accounts The ridings are all in a very factory state and the sum 0*i.£3875 16s 7d was expended on their maintenance during the year. It is doubtful, taking the riding roads as a whole and considering the heavy traffic on most ot them, whether any county can show a higher standard of maintenance. County Teams The total cost of maintenance of the teams- during the year amounted to £666 2s 6d, wages being £333 7s lOd; shoeing and repairs £6l 13s 7d, oats, chaff, grazing, etc. were £271 Is Id. A total of 7406 yards of metal was carted and other works, such as widening, carting, etc., were also carried out. Machinery The machinery is in excellent order and tho finance committee has noted with pleasure that the cost of repairs for a whole year to such a large plant amounted only to £324 14s 2d. Bridges and culverts A large amount of maintenance work has been done during tho year. The policy of replacing old wooden culverts in concrete is being steadily carried out. Estimates —Receipts—- £

Conclusion The standard of maintenance has been increased and as a Tcsult the main asset of the council, the state of its roads, is excellent. Despite shorter hours, higher wages, increased cost of material, etc., the financial position of the county is very sound. In fact, the county is in such an excellent position that, provided a council with similar views to the present one is elected next May, I see no reason why the present low rate should be raised for years to come. A brief reference to the prevailing amalgamation epidemic may be seasonable. Amalgamation, like drugs, is both desirable and useful in some cases, but, like drugs, in other circumstances it may prove harmful and expensive. After listening to, or reading the arguments of the amalgamation theorists (for theorists they all are at present) it might be worth while after considering tho county’s position as above stated, to seriously reflect on the fable of the dog who grasped at the shadow and lost the bone. If the ratepayers are allowed a vote on the subject I hope to have the privilege of addressing you on the matter at somo future date. The report was considered so satisfactory that there was no comment from the councillors. The engineer (Mr Hawkes) observed that .the teams had been worked at a cost of Is 6id per yard of metal, as against Is lid the previous year. In answer to a question by Cr Druce the chairman stated that the Bill relating to amalgamation had not yet gone through, but that if it did go through in its present form all the ratepayers would be disfranchised. The general opinion of the meeting was that if the amalgamation was enforced the ratepayers in the outlying

Bank of N.Z. County Fund A/c 3189 Machinery working Outstanding rates and rents •• 293 Outstanding highways 328 Estimate highways 6473 Estimated subsidy on rates .. 1010 200 4300 £18,523 —^Expenditure— . . fiflOO 2800 Salaries and travelling 960 Telephones, stamps, etc. .. .. Dog tax, rates, holiday,\audit, etc. 350 Insurances, legal, printing, health 320 Interest a/c’s and sinking funds 1230 1528 1536 1073 Maharahara Biding 1756 £18,523