COUNTY AFFAIRS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22117, 24 May 1935, Page 14

COUNTY AFFAIRS

FORESTRY AND RATSS TIMBER LEVY WANTED MATAMATA COUNCIL'S VIEWS [FROM OUR OWN COItnESroNDENT] MATAMATA, Thursday The annual meeting of the Matamata County Council was held yesterday. This year the county has abolished riding accounts and all work will now bo provided for out of the general fund. For the first time since its inception the council has increased its ridings for electoral purposes, the total members now being 11 as against 9. The two new ridings are those of Hinuera and Waharoa. It was decided to forward a remit to the counties' conference asking for an amendment to the Finance Act, 1927 (No. 2), to provide for the payment of a timber levy of Jd per 100 feet board measure on all timber, including that cut from exotic trees, when converted from the log into sawn timber, woodpulp or manufactured into any marketable commodity. Mr. K. S. Cox (Tokoroa) explained that there were over 100,000 acres planted in pinus insignis in the county and this land was only paying rates on the unimproved value. It thus had an advantage over land carrying native timber, which was not exempt from the levy. This position arose because, previous to the establishment of afforestation companies, the Government had stopped rating on imported trees with the object of encouraging farmers to plant shelter belts. Forestry companies had come under the exemption once the land was planted and this had made a difference of £4OO annually in the Tokoroa Riding rates. That money had now to be found by the fewer farmers left in the riding.

The Post and Telegraph Department advised that it would agree to bear half the expense with local bodies of the cost of the removal of telegraph and telephone poles necessitated by road work, provided application was made. The council agreed to the proposal. The question of trees and hedges at road intersections interfering with the view of motorists was again raised. The engineer urged that in many cases instead of the /treed being topped, which needed to be done annually, the trees should be allowed to grow up and the lower branches bo lopped to a height of live feet. This would provide a permanent solution. The chairman, Mr. J. W. Anderson, said the council held the was now a national one and accordingly a remit had been forwarded to. the Counties' Association. ROTORUA DISTRICT HIGHWAYS ATIAMTJRI ROAD PROBLEM [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] ROTORUA, Thursday In his report at the annual meeting of the Rotorua County Council the chairman, Mr. H. P. Ford, stated that the Public Works Department had continued its policy of metalling and improving backblock roads, and the district main highways had been well maintained. . .

The council expressed regret that, in spite of representations to the Main Highways Board and the Public Works Department, no further progress had been made with tho Atiamuri Road. During tho year the Prime Minister and Minister of Native Affairs inspected Crown and other land development schemes in localities served by tho road, and application was made by the council for assistance toward upkeep of the thoroughfare until tho lands adjacent become settled and in a position to bo rated. So far the council had not been successful in securing a maintenance grant, but the question of declaring the Atiamuri Road a main highway was being considered by tho Main Highways Board. During tho year 59 building permits had been issued within the county, a fact that indicated progress. TE KUITI FINANCES INCREASED RATE COLLECTION [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] TE KUITI, Thursday A report presented at the annual meoting of tho Waitoino County Council yesterday showed that the receipts for the year were £37,121 and the expenditure £31,884, leaving a surplus on tho year's working of £5237. The rates collected showed an increase of £2141 on the previous year, although the amount struck was £2OBI less. Tho engineer reported that many of tho bridges in the county showed signs of decay. Several required immediate attention. *

The following Finance Committee was appointed:—Messrs W. A. Lee, L. R. Jones, R. W. Neale and J. N. Boddio.