Whangaroa County Council Affairs

Northland Age, Volume 6, Issue 30, 16 April 1937, Page 3

Whangaroa County Council Affairs

Members Meet for April Meeting Separate Officers for Clerk and Engineer The April meeting of the Whangaroa County Council was held at Kaeo on Monday. There were present Crs. H. R. Leslie (chairman), T. H. Hayes, J. W. Hayes, E. F. Connolly, E. B. Weber, C. Mai’tin, E. R. Shepherd and Mr. H. Chappell (cleik). With reference to the obtaining of titles to Mr. T. M. Lane’s property at Totara North, it was decided to c m municate with Mr. Ross, solicitor of Whangarei, to finalise the matter. No payment yet having been received from Mr. H. Whittington along the lines of an arrangement, it was decided to leave the question of surveying the road in obeyance. No action was taken in connection with the appeal of the Prime Minister for the King George V National memorial fund for the permanent establishment of children’s health camps. Plans of McKeown’s bridge were submitted to the Council by the district engineer, Mr. R. H. Packwood. The members expressed satisfaction of the proposed structure and tenders will shortly be called. Messrs. E. H. Brown and Co., Kaeo, advised that as from April 1, all motor spirit would be advanced one penny per gallon in order to carry out their contract with the Council. Application was granted Mr. J. L. Johnson to transport log timber from Sharnoch’s road to his mill. Stating that the Council would be more efficiently served, Cr. T. H. Hayes urged that instead of the positions of clerk and engineer being combined as one, they be held by two separate persons. A detailed report of finances in this respect is to be tabled at next meeting. Considerable discussion took place regarding the necessity of a rest room, it being agreed the engineer submit an estimate at next meeting. The Finances Reviewed In a review of the Council’s finances for the year ending March 31, the treasurer stated the year commenced with a debit balance of £902 14/7, and with the expenditure amounting to £IO,OOO 4/10, made a total of £10,907 4/7. Receipts for the same period totalled £10,272 12/1, leaving a debit balance of £634 12/6. This shows a decided improvement on last year’s activities when the debit balance stood at £902 14/7. Rate collections for the year amounted to £3,702 10/4

“It will be very gratifying to the Council to learn that its financial position is satisfactory, particularly when considering the uncertainty of rising wages and other costs at the time when the annual estimates were submitted,” added the treasurer. “Although there now appears to be a marked improvement in the ability of ratepayers to pay heavier rates, it is suggested that every endeavour should be made by the Council to collect a greater percentage of the rates levied and arrears without making any greater increase to those ratepayers who readily meet their obligations. F or instance, if 80 percent, of the past year’s rates were collected the additional amount would be approximately £2BO. This amount represents rates of a little more than ad. on the rateable value of the County.” HOSPITAL BOARD AFFAIRS There was little business transacted at the April meeting of the Whangaroa Hospital Board held at Kaeo yesterday. Mr. Shepherd presided. The report submitted by the treasurer showed that expenditure up to March 31 amounted to £2726, while a

total of £2735 had been received by way of revenue. The debit balance as at March 31 was shown as £264. A decision was made to make a grant of two guineas to the Prime Minister’s appeal in connection with the King George V National Memorial fund for the permanent establishment of children’s health camps.