COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 25, Issue 3762, 29 May 1936, Page 8

COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

PROGRESS IN OTOROHANGA. COUNTY.

CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT.

As retiring chairman, Mir Walter Bluck, submitted the following review at the annual meeting of the Otorohang'a Counity Council on Wednesday:— Since the last annual meeting, there has been, an improvement in prices for primary products, and the present outlook generally is much brighter. As you know the special Government subsidy of 124 per cent, was repeated for all rates on properties used for farming purposes. Notwithstanding the unusually wet summer the general rates collected were sufficient to efficiently maintain all metal roads.

The arrangement with the Bank for an overdraft limit of £6OOO was renewed for year ending 31st March, 1936, but only used to the extent of £1994, fog a short period, interest paid being £l5 Us 9d against £73 8s 9d for previous year. During the year the Council held ten ordinary, four special, four financial and two settlers meetings. RATES. I have pleasure in stating that the ydar has proved a record one in respect to the rates collected. Out of a total of £12687 10s 8d rates struck, £8915 12s 10s was collected, representing 72 per cent., which added to arrears collected of £4737 18s 4d, makes a total of £13,653 Us 2d, approximately £lOOO more than the European rates struck. The credit balances «of the Ridings total £4413 Us Bd, nearly double the amount of the previous record. A notice of motion to strike the General and Hospital Raites will come before the ordinary meeting this afternoon. In view, however, of the priobability of history repeating itself, namely lai good year in the collection of rakes is usually followed by a year not nearly as good, it maybe unwise to make any reduction in the General rate.

The Wlaikato Hospital Beard has noft yet advised the Council of the amount of levy required from the Otorohanga County. I understand from the Council’s representative on the Board, that there is likely to be a small increase:, however, as a, substantial credit balance is in hand, a slight reduction in the rate is justified. SPECIAL LOANS. During the yea,r a special rating area, lean of £4OO was sanctioned by the Local Government Loans Board. For the first time since the inception of the County no debentures were sold during the financial year. LOAN CONVERSION. Recently a successful conversion of the Antecedent Liability Loan of £7OTO wlas effected. FUTURE LOAN PROPOSAL FOR CULVERTS AND BRIDGES. The County engineer has submitted a comprehensive report on over 100 culverts and bridges, which it will be necessary eithdr to reconstruct or carry out fairly extensive repairs, involving a total loan expenditure of £B3lO over a period of 20 years. ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE. Despite most unfavourable weather conditions during the whole year the County rdads have been maintained without seriously affecting the County funds. The outstanding features of a bad season was the disastrous cyclonic storm that wrecked a portion of Te Rauamoa Riding in February last. It is not definitely known how far the Main Highways Board will go towards meeting the cost of repairs and tlhie probability is that Te Rauamoa Riding account will be seriously depleted. The Minister of Public Works definitely advised that he will not give more than £2 to £1 for reopening Oamaru and Manglaiti Roads, and so the question of financing these works must be considered.

As the result of operations by both the Council and the Public Works Department, fifteen miles of new metalled roads have been constructed to provide access to settlers in outlying areas. RAGWORT. I wish to impress upon you the seriousness of the ragwort menlace. The Very valuable assistance that has been given by the Unemployment Board (amount expended to March 31st, 1936, £17,744), has certainly checked the growth in places, but it cannot be claimed that any progress has so far been made in eradication of the weed. Meetings and conferences which have been held have not produced any solution of the difficulty of dealing with the pest.

I have to thank the Public Works Department and Main Highways Board for the important road works undertaken in the County and for the courtesy and assistance of its local officers.

I wish to thank the clerk, engineer and staff for the way in which they carried out their duties.

Since the' New Year we all very much regret absence of Cr W. G. Kay, through serious illness. Nevertheless, he has taken, as always, a very keen interest in the affairs' of his Riding and the County. In conclusion I wish to tiiank all members of the Council for their cooperation and consideration to myself as chairman, which I have much appreciated.