HEAVIER RATE PROPOSED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19335, 27 May 1937, Page 16

HEAVIER RATE PROPOSED

WAIROA COUNTY COUNCIL • • UNAVOIDABLE POSITION'' (Special to the Herald.) WAIROA. this day. The Wairoa County Council's estimates for the year 1937-38 show that the council will require to levy a general rate sufficient to produce £18,792, which is £3216 more than the general rate of la 1 ' in the £1 produced last year." stated t-lie chairman. Cr. A. C. Solan, at yestcrilav's meeting of the Wairoa County Council. "Against this the council has a ercd.t balance of £6962 in its general account, ,vhich I am in favour ol maintaining as far as possible against unforeseen coni ingencies. "For the past six months the council's expenditure on road and bridge works iias been maintained at a rate equivalent to the provision made for the current .ear. and if anything the rate of expenliturc is more iikeh to increase than dc-ica.-.c, leaving no provision for an emergency such as ilood damage. ■■( therefore recommend that the general rate be increased by 'il in the £l. milking it l|d in the CI for the current ,cai. "This increase could be offset by educing the bridge fund rate this year ir„„, id in the £1 to l-20d in the £l, is the bridge fund is in credit to the

• xteiit of £3940 4s. and is in a position m meet demands likely to be made upon it during the year for the council's.share of the cost of the Wangawohi and Wairekii bridges and contributions towards repayments of a .share of the cost of the Dhinepaka and Te Rcingn bridges. ■•|t must be remembered thai wages costs and costs of materials have shown ~,, increase of from 20 to 25 per cent during the past year and a corresponding increase in the rate levy to meet the losition is unavoidable. Since- last yeai :he council has become subject to a lumber of Arbitration Court award* ,vhich now cover the majority of the •ouncil's employees, and have all brought increased wages bills."

General approval was given to the esti nates, which are to be dealt with later