CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4189, 26 May 1939, Page 6

CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL’S PROGRESS. A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY. At the statutory annual meeting of the Waipa County Council, on Wednesday, the chairman, Cr. S. C. Macky, presented his annual report, as follows: In presented my annual review on the operations of the council over the past year, I have pleasure in again being able to report a generally satisfactory position. The difficulty of maintaining our ordinary macadam and gravelled roads with a satisfactory running surface, has again been exemplified to a remarkable degree. Owing to the ever increasing volume of traffic, and long periods of dry weather rendering the work of the road-graders almost useless, as well as intensifying thie dust nuisance, it is becoming ever more apparent that the provision of sealed surfaces, at least on our main roads, is the only solution. In my opinion the only way that this can be brought about is by making a larger share of motor taxation available for the purpose either by the declaration of a much greater mileage of secondary highways, or by liberally subsidising county expenditure in this direction. Good progress has been made with our programme for reconstructing and sealing the existing highways, and its is hoped that a considerable additional mileage will be undertaken in the current year. The annual balance again reveals that the county fund is in a sound and healthy condition. The financial year ended with a credit of £13,557 4s lOd, in the general revenue and expenditure account, as compared with £13,787 3s 6d last year and £13,986 5s 4d in the previous year. The result is considerably better than was anticipated in our budgetary estimates, owing to the fact that expenditure on quite a number of items, was below the amount provided for, and was exceeded in only a few minor instances.

Chief among the items over-esti-mated were those for main roads by £1,132, main highways £426, noxious weeds £7OO, stock £3OO, new plant £B6B, engineering and survey £295, land and buildings £2OO, and other smaller amounts making a total of £4,188. The expenditure exceeded the estimates in two cases only, viz., on Public Works account by £766 and interest on bank overdraft £69, leaving a nett saving of £3,353.' The total receipts for the year under review amounted to £164,242 7s sd, including balance of revenue and loan money on hand from previous year, and the expenditure to £143,484 10s 3d, leaving a nett balance on all accounts of £20,757 17s 2d. COMPARISON OF RECEIPTS. The principal items amongst the receipts, with shillings and pence omitted, and with last year’s figures for comparison were as follows:

These together with a host of smaller amounts too numerous to particularise, with the balance of £23,324 19s 6d brought forward from last year, make the total of £164,242 7s 5d previously mentioned. EXPENDITURE. The principal items of expenditure include:—•

and numerous small amounts, making a total of £143,484 10s 3d. RATE COLLECTION. The rate collection for the year amounted to 96.05 per cent of the total European rates levied as against 93.9 per cent, last year, while 55.05 per cent of the arrears were also collected. The arrears of rate payments are gradually being reduced, and this year stand at £4,069 as against £4,877 last year, and £8,339 at 31st March, 1935.

Administration costs are at the satisfactory low level of 2.75 per cent of payments made, compared with 4.21 per cent in the previous year. It will be necessary to raise a considerable amount of new loan money this year if authority is given to.

carry on with our full programme of Highway Reconstruction, and for this we will have to pay an increased rate of at least 41 per cent. The council, however, is fortunate in having been to take advantage of the previous low rate, and to raise approximately £45,000 at an average of 3 1/3 per cent. THE ENGINEER’S RETIREMENT. This is probably the last annual meeting that will be attended by our esteemed engineer, Mr Civil, and I desire to- express my deep regret at the breaking of a long and happy association. I am sure all members will join with me in expressing appreciation of the splendid service rendered by Mr Civil, and in hoping that he may enjoy many years of health and happiness in his retirement. In conclusion I wish to thank Councillors and members of the staff for the unfailing courtesy extended to me in my capacity_as chairman and for their cordial co-operation in all matters pertaining to the best interests of the council and the public generally. The thanks of the council are due to a loyal and zealous staff for their excellent work during the year, and to officers of the Public Works Department and Highways Board for their cordial co-operation in matters affecting their particular departments.

We are also indebted to representatives of the Press for their faithful and tactful reports of meetings and of other matters o£ interest in connection with the work of the Council.

Cr. Onion congratulated the chairman upon his splendid report, and went on to express the conviction that sealed roads were necessary. Mqtor traffic was increasing. The local bodies would have to obtain larger grants or allow the roads to deteriorate.

To Cr. Clarke, the chairman said the Counties’ Association was pressing for larger subsidies from the Highways Board, asking especially for a £ for £ subsidy on all county rates, so that subsidiary roads could be improved to meet the demands of motor traffic. The report was adopted.

This Last Year Year £ £ Current Rates, Arrears & Penalties 32,448 30,650 Subsidy on Rates 2,500 2,500 Heavy Traffic Fees ... 3,622 3,275 Plant Working — Hire etc 10,034 8,247 Material & Fuel issued 5,137 Sodium & Lime 2,192 2,324 Reimbursements:— Employment Wages 1,347) 7,443 Noxious Weeds, Wages ) & Materials 8,339) Main Highway Contributions 50,668 12,917 Licenses & Fees, Drivers’ „ * 928 88J Licenses & Fees, Other 207 l 150 Dog Registration ■ 272 .— Dog Medicine ( 91 — Govt. Road Grants 895 1,216 Contributions to Riding

Works, Royalties, Hiro, etc « 1,148 1,635 Loans raised, less charges 15,041 —— Refund from Sinking’ Fund Commissioner 1,400 Contributions to Interest on Loans 575 500

Riding Works 1939 £ 13,472 1938 £ 14,337 Main Roads ............ 2,337 2,406 Main Highways:— Board’s share £53,588) Council rev. 1,404) 71,458 17,365 Council loan 16,465) Govt. Grants 997 1,216 Bridges 487 — Noxious Weeds 8,614 8,578 No. 13 Scheme Works 1,470 1,484 New Plant 3,916 2,288 3,887 Purchases of Stock 4,168 Pur. of Sodium & Lime 2,100 2,566 Plant Working, Fuel, Oil, Wages, Repairs 7,800 5,586 Hospital Levy 5,786 5,282 Salaries 2,365 2,159 Interest on Loans 5,997 5,991 Redemptions & Princi* pal Repaid 4,288 3,985 Sinking 1 Fund . 1,477 1,414 Dog Registration, Collars. Commissions, Medicine . 237