County Council Meeting

Northland Age, Volume 6, Issue 31, 23 April 1937, Page 4

County Council Meeting

The usual monthly meeting of the Mangonui County Council was held in Kaitaia on Wednesday when there were present Crs. W. Vickers (chairman), J. N. Berghan, W. Steed, L. J. Matthews, F. Holder, R. T. Wrathall and C. J. E. Barriball. Cr. Thompson was absent, being at the first, meeting of the Bay of Islands Power Board, as was also Mr C. McKinnon, the county engineer (Mr. Ralph Torrie) acting as clerk for the meeting. Contribution to Memorial Fund.— The Council decided to contribute £25 towards the King George Memorial Fund for the estabishment of Health Camps for children. Paying Authority for Unemployed. —The Council agreed to become the paying authority to the unemployed to be employed on the improvements to the Ahipara school gorunds. Waipapakauri Aerodrome.—“ What are our functions and what will it cost us if the Council takes over control of the Waipapakauri Aerodrome,” Cr. Wrathall wanted to know when the control of this area was under discussion. As the county clex - k, who had full knowledge of the posi-

tion was not present at the meeting, the filling in of application forms for the Council to become the Aviation Authority in control of the aerodrome, was left with the chairman and clerk with power to act, provided that such control will not involve any further expenditure by the Council. Motor Drivers’ License Fees. —The Council is to protest against the pioposal by the Government that all motor drivers’ license fees be paid into the Government. County Councils will not then receive any of these fees and as the Mangonui County Council receives £240 a year from this source, Councillors did not see why the Government should grab this. Auckland Harbour Bridge. The Council supported the proposal for the erection of the Auckland harbour bridge, provided there was no financial liability on the county. The erection of this structure was considered by members as a national undertaking. Blockage of Rivers by Willows.— Mrs. Meffin again complained of the waterlogged state of the low-lying section of her farm at Fairburn, as a result of the blockage of the rivers by willows, backing up the water and thus spoiling part of the farm. As this w T as in Cr. Thompson’s riding, it was left over for his attention. Unahi Settlers’ request. Writing on behalf of the Unahi settlers whose lands were inundated by the high tide of March 1936, and in conse-

quence the grass spoilt, with a resultant very substantial drop of butterfat returns, Mr. G. Cosson requested the Council to consider a concession to the settlers in regard to their rates.

The councillors were sympathetic to the proposal that a concession be made, but no decision was made till the Council’s powers in this connection be ascertained. Te Paki road.—Messrs. Keene Bros, of Te Paki, offered to supply metal free, provided the Council paid for the cartage on the road to the homestead. The suggestion was that a Government grant be applied for. Bank Overdraft. The Council is to arrange for a bank overdraft of £IO,OOO, about the highest on record, for the coming year. Work on Riding roads.—Maintenance work on various riding roads is to be carried out as early -as possible. Rangiawhia Peninsula Access.—A petition from settlers on the Tokerau Beach and Rangiawhia Peninsula requesting the Government that an all weather route be constructed to this area, was endorsed by the Council. At present the Tokerau Beach has to be used and at high tide this is net usable. The P.W.D. are at present carrying out extensive road works in this area, but these roads will lead on to the beach. DEPUTATIONS TO COUNCIL Road at Fairburn Mr. R. Lupton waited on the Council requesting that the Council make application for a Government grant for the completion of metalling of Fisher’s road, Fairburn, his access road. One mile of metal was required. The Public Works Minister had written that he w-ould not agree to a free grant for this work as the Council had received very favourable consideration in the previous work on this road. Mr. Lupton said that

during his 18 years occupation of his farm he had paid £SOO in rates and his rates were paid in full. This question of an application for a subsidised grant was held over till Cr. Thompson, in whose riding is the road, was present. A Lake Ohia Road Mr. J. Pribicevich asked the Council to make application for a Government grant to complete the metalling of his access road at Lake Ohia, an estimated length of 22 chains. The settlers had previously helped with the work on this road and were prepared to further assist. Mr. Pribicevich also asked that the Council metal at once the worst sections, about 15 loads of metal being required. This question was left with the riding member and engineer to deal with. COUNTY COUNCIL’S FINANCES Very Low Rate Collection One Third Goes to Hospital, Leaving Only About One Fifth for Roads I have to report, wrote the county treasurer, Mr. C. McKinnon, to the last meeting of the Mangonui County Council, that the payment of county rates for the year ended March 31 last, is most disappointing considering the greatly improved economic conditions of affairs generally during the past year. Some farmers in the Kaitaia area who are milking two herds have made no attempts to pay their rates. Some excuse themselves under the pretext that the drainage rates are crushing them, but when these have never been paid, the position becomes absurd.

I would respectfully recommend the Council to seriously consider the whole question of unpaid rates, and would suggest that 14 days’ notice be given all defaulters to make payment or satisfactory arrangements be entered into for the payment of amounts outstanding, failing which legal proceedings should be immediately instituted for the recovery of the same. May I suggest that in future the rates be levied at an earlier date so that payment of the same may be enforced, say at the end of Januax-y. Unless some di-astic action is taken, the people who are paying will also default. Rates levied and collected under various ridings are as follows :

Arrears of rates paid during the year amounted to £3069 10/7, making a total collection of £9998 7/3, out of which the Council contributed to the Hospital Board £3317 3/2, interest and sinking fund on loans, £4482 15/0, leaving a balance of £2226 19/9 for x’oad works, cost of administx-a-tion being met out of genei-al licenses etc. Heavy traffic licenses collected was £1339 and drivers’ licenses amounted to £240 17/6.

Total receipts including balance brought forward (£Bl5 17/9) was £44869, whilst the expenditure amounted to £45,261. Principal items of expenditure other than hospital levy, interest and sinking fund on loans, are : unemployed £18,355, Government grants £6816, main highways £6104, riding roads £1622. Under present conditions the Council will not be able to subsidise road grants and only partially maintain existing loads. I he Councillors’ Opinions “We must push for rates,” said the chairman after the above report had been read to the Council. “Other counties ai-e making good collections of l-ates, so should we ; conditions have definitely impi-oved, yet our rate collections are as bad as dui-ing the slump yeai-s.” Cr. Wrathall : “I would like to point out that the majority of the defaulting ratepayers are in the western area.” “ No, no ! Why bring that up ! ” from other councillors. Other councillors expressed disappointment at the low i-ate collection and considered that the penalty of

10 pei-cent should be added to unpaid i-ates and that rates should be struck earlier in the year, so that payment would be made by the end of January. Rates to be Sued for It was decided that all ratepayers in arrears are to be given 14 days’ notice to pay their rates or to give a good reason for inability to pay, otherwise rates will be sued for. County Traffic Inspector Reports on the Year The following information regarding traffic fees collection and collection of the dog tax dui’ing the past year, was supplied by the county traffic inspector, Mr. A. F. MacKenzie, to the last meeting of the Mangonui County Council : Heavy Traffic.—l have 106 heavy traffic licenses collected for the quarter ending May 31, 1937. For the year ending March 31, 1937, I have collected £1339 8/5 for heavy traffic licenses as against £1066 10/- for the year 1936, an increase of £272 18/5 for heavy traffic. Driving Tests. —I have given 168 tests for the year. Dog Collars.—Of the 1200 collars we got this year, I have sold all but 75 ; they have come in faii-ly well. The Pound.—l have had very few stock in the pound this month.

Riding Levied Collected £ s. d. £ s. d. Ahipara 1212 2 1 738 9 4 Awanui 1797 14 10 778 6 4 Herekino 1301 1 8 850 13 6 Houhora 2281 3 8 648 9 7 Kaitaia 2334 18 9 913 14 4 Mangonui 1007 18 0 617 12 8 Oruru 1411 9 5 883 5 9 Vic. Valley 2495 13 0 1498 5 2 £13842 1 5 £6928 16 8