COUNTY FINANCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21164, 22 April 1932, Page 12

COUNTY FINANCES.

MATAMATA'S good position. REDUCTION IN RATES LIKELY. [rnoM nrn. own* correspondent.] MATAMATA, Thursday. An interim report, on tho finances of tho Matamala County Council which was presented at the meeting this weqk shows that the council is in an exceptionally strong position with total cash and bank balances amounting to £33,802 9s sd, of which £17,597 8s 4d is in tho general account. The position is duo to tho unexpected rush of rato revenue during March, combined with vigorous curtailment of reading expenditure, much of which is merely postponed. Of the special per cent, subsidy, amounting to £3321 16s 6d, received from* tho Government, £3230 0s lOcl has been handed to ratepayers. The 10 per cent, penally added to the 1931-32 European rates unpaid at March 22 amounted to £486 lis 10(1, compared with £912 2s lid added for tho year 1930-31, showing that n special effort, was mado by ratepayers as a result of Iho Government's subsidy of 12£ per cent. Iri presenting their report, Messrs. ,7. A. Beck (clerk), and M. E. Fitzgerald (engineer), pointed out that in spite of tlie larger balance in the general account there was "not, money to burn." They emphasised that although for 10 years a good surface had been kept on certain roads there was not now the same thickness of metal on them.

In commenting on the report the chairman, Mr. ,7. W. Anderson, said he thought that the council when dealing with tho estimates at the May meeting, would bo able to reduce tho rates in practically all ridings. He was definitely opposed to any further cut in the wages of the lower paid employees, earning 12s 6d arid 13s 6rl a day. Ho congratulated ratepayers on the manner in which they had paid their rates this year. The chairman's comments were endorsed by members.