COUNTY AFFAIRS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22740, 28 May 1937, Page 15

COUNTY AFFAIRS

AVAII'A FINANCES INCREASED CREDIT BALANCE HIGHER RATE COLLECTIONS [by tei.f.gkaph OWN correspondent'] TE AWAMUTU, Thursday In reviewing the Wain a County Council's operations for the past financial year, the chairman, Mr. S. C. B. Macky, said that the financial year ended with a credit of £13,896 in the general revenue and expenditure account, as compared with £10,042 in the previous year. Approximately £IOB2 more was collected in rates than in the previous year. Dealing with expenditure. Mr. Macky said that the most noticeable item of increase was that for eradication of noxious weeds, which was £6753, as compared with £665 for the previous year. The greater portion of the expenditure, however, had been recovered by way of subsidy from the Department of Agriculture*-, while amounts expended in the purchase of sodium and lime had been balanced by sales made to ratepayers. Satisfactory progress was being made with the reconstruction and sealing of the Great South Road main highway, although the work had been hindered at times by bad weather and the shortage of metal supplies. Work on the Krankton-Whatawhata main highway had been completed with a one-coat seal under the supervision of the county engineer.

HOBSON GENERAL RATE 5D ItOADS AND BRIDGES POLICY [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] DAT?G AVILIiE, Thursday A general rate of -Id in the pound over the whole of the county was struck at the annual meeting of the Hobson County Council yesterday. This was estimated to produce £19,400. An amendment that the rate be 4sd in the pound was defeated. The chairman- stated that the total receipts for the past year were £56,990. Hates collected totalled 84 per cent of the current year and 46 per cent of arrears. Expenditure for the year was £57.850, being £B6O more than receipts. A recommendation that the council, when considering its roads and bridges under the new system recently adopted, should follow the example set by the Main Highways Board in allotting to each a specified amount annually, was contained in a special report by the engineer. Mr. S. L. Spanliake. If that were done, be stated, the council would have funds to replace wear on all surfaced roads. Deterioration would _be arrested, and after that gradual improvements might be expected. Mr. V. Tronrisen, who has s been chairman of the council since 1914, was reelected for the ensuing year.

HEAVY EXPENDITURE T AIT RANG A COUNCIL'S ACCOUNTS [by telegraph—own* correspondent] TAT7RANG A, Thursday The chairman, Mr. G. H. Mends, in his report for the past year, presented to the annual meeting of the Tauranga County Council, stated that the year's expenditure totalled £70,729, compared with £54,797 in the previous year. The receipts totalled £65.205, compared with £59,404 in the previous year. As against 110 notifications of the sale or transfer of properties received during the year 1935-36, there were 169 received last year. Building permits numbered 132 at an estimated value of £32.672. compared with £15.612 in the previous year. Tn an endeavour to check ragwort, the sum of £1666 from the unemployment funds had been used to employ relief labour. Up to 70 men in certain weeks were thus employed during a period of about 12 weeks, and 113 tons of lime and altaeide were used in treating 3915 acres. MAINTENANCE OF ROADS HIGHER RATE IN WAITOMO [by telegraph correspondent] TE KUITI, Thursday " The estimates for the current year have been framed with the idea of giving more attention to the maintenance of metalled roads, redeeking of several bridges and the renewal of bridges," said the engineer. Mr. R. H. Browne, at a meeting of the Waitomo County Council. "To carry out this work it will he clearly seen that the rate struck last year is inadequate, especially in view of increased costs of labour and production." The estimates will he further considered at the next meeting of the council. Mr. W. A. Lee was re-elected chairman. His honorarium was restored to £IOO. Cuts in members' travelling expenses were also restored. The engineer reported that total expenditure on all works from county revenue last year amounted to £9239, as compared with £7638 in the previous year. In addition, a £5636 subsidy from the Government had been expended on highways, as compared with £1593. Loans accounted for £316, as against £217, and £4276 from the unemployment fund had been spent, as against £2609 the previous year. To metal roads in the county as suggested by the Minister's five-year programme he 'estimated would cost about £70,000.