TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3555, 2 May 1922, Page 14

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the above council was held on Friday, 21st nit., there being present: Crs M‘Lennan (chairman), J. K. Brown, It. MacDonald, R. A. Rodger, J. K. Simpson, J. D. Revie, and A. C. Leary. Crs Bennetts and Cotton sent apologies. MOTION OF SYMPATHY. On the motion of the Chairman a vote of condolence was passed to Mr and Mrs J. Norrie in their recent bereavement by the death of their son, Edwin Roland Norite. The Chairman said they looked upon Mr Norrie as one of themselves, but owing to what had happened he was not with them that day, and they deeply sympathised with him and his family. The motion was carried in silence, standing. CO R R E S POND E N C E. The ranger reported the impoundings dining the month.—Received. Mr M‘Phedran wrote drawing attention to the road leading to the Dunrobin siding, and also offering to cut willows overhanging the road. —Mr M'Phedran was granted permission to cut willows. From Palmer and Son, Dunedin, quoting prices for road metal.—Received. From the Commissioner of Crown Lands, stating that additional length of road in the Teviot Settlement had been handed over to the Tnapeka County Council, being the cart track out to Lake Onslow.—Received. From Mr W. Toms, Roxburgh, asking permission to take water pipe line down the right-of-way between Mr .T. Bennett’s property and his own; also to take 3in drain pine across the road. —Permission granted. From Sailors’ Gully (Waitahuna) Gold Mining Company, Ltd., asking for permission to deviate the main Waitahuna Gullv road from Tucker to Maori Gully to enable the present portion of road to be worked.— Cr Brown said the deviation would improve the road, and the request was granted. From Mr F. Smith, factor, Dunedin, m regard to new road line through the manse glebe and adjoining properties at Crookston. —The Chairman and Cr Revie were authorised to sign the plan. From Mr John Edie, M.P., acknowledging receipt of council’s letter regarding Government votes, and had forwarded these to the Minister of Public Works. Received. From the same acknowledging receipt of council’s resolution in re the excessive audit fees charged, and stating that he would be pleased to co-operate with Messrs Malcolm and Horn in putting the council’s views before the authorities. —Received. From Mi* James Horn, M.P., dated March 21. acknowledging receipt of council’s letter rcvVrding audit fees and Government grants. With further letters dated March 29 and April 17. Mr Horn enclosed replies he had received. The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. J. G. Coates, under date March 28. fit;;tod tliat lie had already received similar representations regarding the grants, and was giving them consideration. The Acting Minister for. Internal Affairs replied that "vhe audit fees were not excessive and had been increased merely for the purpose of providing agaimst actual loss to the depart-ment.”--Received. From the Public Works Department fori warding copy of Order-in-Council declaring

roads, Teviot Loan Block a county road (Gazette No. 22, March 30, 1922).

From the Waihemo County Council, forwarding resolution passed by it expressing the opinion that hospital boards’ accounts should be audited free. A lengthy letter was read from Mr J. S. Douglas (Mayor of Dunedin), regarding a united effort to be made to assist the Russian Famine and Starving Children in Europe Relief Fund. A Central Executive Committee had been appointed, of which the Mayor or chairman of each controlling local authority would be a member. In the meantime it was suggested that Friday, May 5, next, should bo set apart in each centre and district for a special effort towards the raising of funds, and all churches throughout the province were requested t-o make on Sunday, April 30, a special service for pleading the cause and urging the necessity for assistance.—Left to borough authorities and local organisations to take action. From the. Southland Electric Power Board, notifying that it had passed a resolution providing that the special rate proposed to be made and levied as security for the loan of £1,500,000, or ns much of the rate as it was found necessary from time to time to collect, shall be collected by the local authority,of each constituent district on behalf of the board. The council was also notified that members of the Power Board would this year be elected on the second Wednesday in November.—lt was pointed out- that the board did not anticipate collecting any rate in the near future. —Received. MEMORIAL BRIDGE. The Chairman said this was the first time they had met since Mr Stewart had handed the memorial bridge at Island Block over to the council, and it was only fitting that the council should show their appreciation of such a handsome gift. He moved, and Cr MacDonald seconded, that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the Stewart family for their handsome gift, and the clerk was authorised to convey the resolution to the Stewart family. Several members spoke in appreciative terms of the generosity of the Stewart family in giving the” bridge. THE HOSPITAL LEVY. From the Otago Hospital Board statin': that the contributory local authorities woul i be called upon to provide the sum of £45,000 (inclusive of half capital expenditure—viz., £2500) for the year ending 1922-23, but the amount would bo subject to adjustment. Last j’car the amount required was £10,208 9s. The reading of the letter caused considerable discussion, and Cr Leary moved, and Cr MacDonald seconded, that the Otago Hospital Board be requested to supply a detailed statement of estimated receipts and expenditure for year ending March 3.1, 192,3, in justification of their levy on the local bodie-s within the* district. That the board be asked to specify such items in proposed expenditure as may be deemed to arise out of grants, donations, or allowances to any institution or organisation. That this council considers that the financial position calls for drastic curtailment of all expenditure, and respectfully asks the Otago Hospital 80-ard to join with other local bodies in .their district in seeking to alleviate, the position of ratepayers by making the rating levy as low as possible. That the proposed levy

now notified to local bodies by the Otago Hospital Board is considered to bo unduly high, and this council is unanimous in asking the board to review’ the levy. In moving the motion, Cr Leary said he considered the levy was much too harsh. He did not think it was ever intended that such a drain should be made on- the local authorities’ funds. The system of raising money for hospitals wanted changing altogether, and they must keep hammering away, or they would never get a change. In seconding the motion, Cr MacDonald said he thoroughly endorsed Cr Leary’s remarks. The question was when the increase in the levy was going to stop. It was increasing every year by leaps and bounds, and if it. went on for a few years longer they would have no rates left to spend on roads. Cr Simpson said he thoroughly approved of the motion, considering the levy an undue tax on the local authorities’ funds. If the increases went on the. council would have no money left for road works. The motion was carried. GENERAL. Accounts amounting to £742 10s 9d were pa ss ed for p a yme n t. The Clerk mentioned that the statutory annual meeting would be on the fourth Wednesday in May. Cr MacDonald brought up the matter of a road deviation, and it was decided that Mr Edie be asked to complete the survey of Sillars’ and Walters’ deviations, and that t lie chairman and Mr MacDonald interview Mr Sillars with a view to coming to a satisfactory understanding. It was also decided that the chairman and Cr Leary be empowered to arrange with Mr Edie to complete a survey of deviation of Bellamy road. Cr f Rodger asked for permission to spend a sum of £IOO for maintenance metal in Tapanui Hiding, and this was authorised. C'r Rodger moved, and Cr Revie second— Contract 929, Edievale to Mca Flat: That acceptance or otherwise of Mr Edwin Curmfs tender be left to the chairman of Cr H vie with power to act.’’—Carried. On the motion of Cr Rodger, seconded by • T Leary, the puntman was authorised to . nt the side railings of the punt. The clerk was instructed to write to the meterv trustees, Tapanui, as to encroachment of the creek on the land above the oidzre, and asked that the necessary steps be taken to protect the bridge. The inspector was authorised to expend .£2O for metal on Dnimsallie read. Cr Leary moved, and Cr Simpson seconded —‘‘That the inspector report on case of re--1 pairing Bowlers Crock bridge.”—Carried. FINANCIAL. A formal resolution was passed enabling the county to borrow money from its bankers by way of overdraft in anticipation of current revenue. A statement under the Local Bodies Finance Act showed that the amount of the council’s overdraft was £167 3s 2d. The clerk read a few extracts from the balance sheet, which showed that in most cases the debit balances against the several ridings had been greatly reduced and the credit balances increased. The Chairman said the statement was very satisfactory. It was very gratifying that the council had been able to reduce the overdraft in the way they had clone. Tt was not,

however, the time to discuss the balance sheet, but lie would suggest that they should appoint a Finance Committee to go into matters in connection with the framing of their estimate of receipts and expenditure for the year. He moved that Crs Rodger, Leary, and Bennetts, and himself lx> appointed a committee to meet on May 12 to deal with this matter and lay the result before the meeting of the council. In moving the passing of the accounts, Cr Rodger complimented the clerk on the result of tlie year’s work, the amount outstanding being only a little over £BOO. The financial state of the county was also a source of gratification for the ratepayers generally. The efforts made to reduce the overdraft had been highly satisfactory, and he did not think there was another county council handling the amount of money this council did that was in as good a financial position. He honed tlia-t they would be able to reduce th 3 rate next year if there was no extraordinary demands on their funds. In conclusion, he moved—“ That a vote of thanks be passed to Mr woods, county clerk, for the result of his year’s work, and very satisfactory state of the council’s finances at the present time. Cr MacDonald and the chairman endorsed Ct Rodger’s remarks. The Chairman eulogised the services Cv Rodger had rendered to the council in regard to finance. The motion was carried unanimously, and fittingly acknowledged by Mr Woods. The meeting then terminated.