Whangarei County Record Collection

Northern Advocate, 10 April 1943, Page 2

Whangarei County Record Collection

The percentage of current general rates (European) collected by tho Whangarei County Council for the year 1942-43 was £20,543/3/2, which equals 95.95 per cent and is the highest percentage collected in the history of the county. The percentage collected for 1941-42 was 92.21 per cent and for the previous year 95.18 per cent. The amount of rates outstanding at March 31 was £876/6/11 as against £1646/13/8 for the previous year. Of the £1646 outstanding at March 31, 1942, £1249 was collected during the past. year. Of the general rates collected for 1942-43 (£20,543/3/2), £8740/19/- for paid to the Whangarei Hospital Board, leaving £.11,802/4/2 for county purposes.

The amount of native rates outstanding for the year ended March 31 was £1348/17/11. Response in Ridings

The following shows the collectable and collected rates for the respective ridings:— Hikurangi, £IBCI (£1733): Kiripaka, £2036 (£1937); Maunu, £2500 (£2424); Mangakahia, £1877 (£1807); Mangapai, £2146 (£2102); Maungakaramca. £1622 (£1544); Manaia, £1927 (£1823); Wairua, £2312 (£2248); Otonga, £1942 (£1794); Waipu, £3245 (£3126). The following are the outstanding' native rates lor the past year:—Hikurangi. £39; Kiripaka. £126; Maunu, £B4; Mangakahia, £242; Mangapai, £l3; Maungakaramea, £34; Manaia, £77; Wairua, £290; Otonga, £385; Waipu, £55. A statement of the special loan rates as at March 31, 1943, discloses that £5852 was the collectable amount, and £5538 was collected. The sum of £503 arrears was also collected. The percentage of these rates collected was 94.65 per cent, against the previous vear’s 91.20 per cent. Better Off in 1929 “While the total of credit balances for the year just brought to a close is high (£21,670), it is interesting to note that the year ending March. 1929, finished with a credit balance of £17,050 (excluding loan fund accounts), and it is safe to say that county roads were in a better state of repair then than they are today, so that a large credit balance then would be more real than today, when metalling and repair work on a greater mileage of county roads is in arrears and urgently required, with the cost of labour and material considerably in excess of the 1929 level.” This was the report of the acting-treasurer (Mr. Geo. H. Lloyd) when presenting the statement of balances at March 31, 1943, to the county council yesterdav. The following were the balances for the respective ridings, also those in other accounts.

Riding Accounts (credit). —Hikurangi, £1170; Kiripaka. £1924; Maunu. £2645; Mangakahia, £2208; Mangapai. £1234; Maungakaramea, £1191; Manaia, £1109; Wairua, £2357: Otonga, £1588; Waipu, £1104; total ridings, £16,535. Separate Accounts (credit). —Land fund

“thirds.” £295; timber royalties “halves,' £l2; E.P.S. expenditure account (debit) £B9; contractors’ deposits, £5. Highway Accounts.—£72.

Government Grants. —Nil. Loan Interest Accounts.—£4B3B

Bank.—Countv fund account, £21,670 Staff Congratulated

“This is a very satisfactory rate collection and is a record for the county.’’

said Mr. j. A. S. Mac Kay. “The staff is to be congratulated on the fine result, also the acting-treasurer (Mr. G. H. Llovd) and staff upon the prompt and thorough manner in which’ the accounts have been placed before the council. It shows the fine control and work of the office.” Cr. F. Elliott considered no improvement was possible in the way the statement. of accounts had been submitted. Crs. A. Clarke and J. Morrison endorsed these remarks. Less on Highways The sum of £987 was expended on highways. The amount contributed by the Highways Board was £2694. making a total of £3681 expended on a total mileage ofls4 1 1 , 4, as against a total of £7573 for 1941- The average cost per mile for 1942- was £24 and for 1941-42 £49 for the sanje mileage.