EDENDALE

Southland Times, Issue 23502, 7 May 1938, Page 21

EDENDALE

WORK OF COUNTY COUNCIL MR L. A. NIEDERER SPEAKS TO RATEPAYERS There was a good attendance of ratepayers at the Edendale hall when Mr L. A. Niederer, member for the Waihopai riding on the Southland County Council, gave an address dealing with county matters in general and those or Waihopai riding in particular. Mr W. Irvine, chairman of the Town Board, P Mr Niederer, who was received with applause, said it was not often such a meeting was held, but as he was opposed this election by a well-known public man, Mr A. M. Weir, he was present to give them some idea of the work of the county and what had been accomplished in the Waihopai riding during the 16 years he had been their representative. After giving an outline of the formation of the county system in New Zealand, Mr Niederer said that when he was elected to the council in 1922 the roads in Waihopai riding were full of potholes. By using a proper system of grading, and 'by introducing the first petrol grader to Southland for use in his riding, he had gradually improved the roads until today every ratepayer in his riding, with the exception of three had a gravelled road to his door. At the time he took over the control of the riding the rates struck totalled £72,090, while today they had been reduced to £64,686, mainly because of highway subsidies from the Government. The system of collecting the rates in the riding was reasonably satisfactory, with 90.8 per cent, of the current rates being collected last year, as well as £l2lO in arrears. Today, the roads were used more ana more by the general public and a more adequate system of de-rating of farm lands would have to be considered. The petrol tax was 10|d a gallon, 4d of which went back to the Consolidated Fund. Of the remaining 6Jd, 8 per cent, went to cities and boroughs, which in Invercargill worked out at £7O a mile and, in the case of the county, £2 a mile. , . .i. Mr Niederer also referred to the unfair position of the larger counties in the matter of the Government subsidy on rates, because of the maximum subsidy being £2500. This meant that a small county such as Wallace secured the maximum subsidy of 5/- in the £, but, because of the large size of Southland County, the subsidy worked out at lOd in the £l. There was a move to have some of the smaller counties amalgamated, and until this was done the larger counties would get no redress in this matter as the small counties held the voting strength. SOUND FINANCIAL POSITION Dealing with the finances of the riding, the speaker said it was in a sound financial position. In 1923 there was a debit balance of £1758, together with an antecedent liability of £1692. On March 31 last, the debit balance was £2 18/4. He had plant worth £2OOO which had been paid for, and there was £BOO set aside for renewals. A total of £9708 was paid into the county on account of traffic licences, and so on, last year. His riding received £6002 from the general account last year, and his policy had been to expend this. He had also taken up all Government grants where roads had been urgently required. The matter of costs was next dealt with, Mr Niederer stating he had introduced a system of his own under which he did not think they could get gravel of the stipulated size for one penny a yard cheaper. Mr John Eades moved a vote of thanks to the speaker' for his able address and for the good work he had done for the ratepayers. ' The chairman, on behalf of the Edendale Town Board, thanked Mr Niederer for the manner in which he had cooperated with his board in attending to any of its requests. PERSONAL Mr H. Hickey, of Edendale, has left

for Trentham, where he has secured a position in the New Zealand Air Force Department. He was met before his departure by parishioners of St. Hildas Church and presented with a fountain pen.