Otamatea County Strikes Higher Rate

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1945, Page 7

Otamatea County Strikes Higher Rate

Pursuant to motion, the proposal to increase the rates throughout the county to 6d in the £ was considered at the meeting of the Otamatea County Council. Though members generally were opposed io the burden of the hospital levy, the general opinion appeared to be that there was no other course but to provide the necessary finance for road maintenance, and hospital purposes. Cr. R. D. Leslie (Kaiwaka) expressed his opinion that the county could not go on without the revenue. Cr. W. A. Preston (Ruawai) pointed out how costs of work, etc., had gone up. If rates remained too low it: was too rough on councillors who had to see the reads maintained. The increased rate would save the ratepayers in the long run by safeguarding the roads. Cr. \V, McKean (Paparoa) explained that in accordance with the direction of his ratepayers' meeting, he should vote against the increase, but he saw no other way but to increase the rate. If we refused to provide the hospital levy, we should lose immediately in the withdrawal of our government subsidy and "Mr Nash was boss.” Cr. W. Hargreaves (Kaiwaka) said that ratepayers who opposed the increase did not realise how costs had gone up. The roads in his riding were certainly much bitter than they were four years ago, and he appreciated that h" and Cr. Leslie had been given a fairly free hand in Kaiwaka. But on the present rates the riding could only eke out an existence. Cr. McCarroll (Mareretu) said he thought the ratepayers did not blame the council. They wanted to see the roads kept in repair. But the Government were quite prepared to allow the council to go on increasing the rates. They had the leverage of withdrawing subsidies if rates were not provided to pay the hospital levy. The council had done more than it should and now the ratepayers were asked to “pay up” again by an increased rate. The council could not let things slide, and were now faced with spending all the rates and all their reserves. An inspection of all county reads was essential. Some roads in Mareretu required urgent attention, and the proposed tour of the county was an urgent matter. The council, after full discussion, passed the motion to strike the general rate of 4*2d in the £, and a special rate of l'/ad, the aim being to cover road maintenance and hospital levy, as well as the administrative costs of the council, making a total rate of 6d in the £.