A YEAR OF PROGRESS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4189, 26 May 1939, Page 7

A YEAR OF PROGRESS

SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF COUNCIL. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. In the course of the seventeenth annual meeting of the Otorohanga County Council on Wednesday the chairman, Mr W. Bluck, traversed the past year’s operations as follows: In presenting the annual report this year, I propose mentioning first of all, although it did not actually happen before the 31st March, 1939, the Prime Minister’s recent statement that local bodies will be permitted to raise loans at a maximum rate of interest of 4} per cent., instead of the previous maximum rate of 3A per cent., at which rate it was almost impossible to raise any county loans. The Council, however, were extremely fortunate in raising a £lOOO loan last January at 3J per cent, for a period of ten years, for the Mangaorongo stream drainage area. Now that the Council is permitted to raise up to a maximum rate of interest of 41 per cent., there should be no difficulty in raising further loans for special areas.

During the year an extra 12 miles of road have been metalled, making a total of 321 miles of metalled roads in the County. When the County was constituted in 1922, there were 83 miles metalled; therefore, in 17 years, 238 metalled miles have been added. Although the increased mileage of metal roads must necessarily mean greater maintenance charges, the general rate remained the same in three of the Ridings. In the Honikiwi Riding an increase was made of a halfpenny in the pound which enabled the Honikiwi Riding to convert a small debit balance into a small credit balance at the 31st March, 1939. A farthing increase was struck in the Wharepapa Riding, which increased the credit balance by £350. The receipts totalled £61,858 5s 2d and the expenditure £51,275 13s sd, leaving a credit balance of £10,582 Ils 9d, a record one for the County. RATES. I have pleasure in stating that all previous records were exceeded by £6OB, the Honikiwi Riding taking the leading position by exceeding its previous record by £436. Usually a notice of motion to strike the general and hospital rates is dealt with at the ordinary meeting to be held this afternoon. In view, however, of changes in the staff and the cost of re-valuing the County, and no charge being made for farmer’s lorries, it would be wise for each Riding member to carefully consider to what extent the general rates should be increased. HOSPITAL RATES. I expect you have already read in the N.Z. Herald the steps the conference of representatives of local bodies held on the 16th inst at Hamilton decided to take in regard to the enormous increase of the hospital levy. The following resolution being passed:— “That the meeting resolves to protest to the Government against the increase of approximately 40 per cent, in the Waikato Hospital Board levies for the current year, and to ask for an increased subsidy towards the cost of administering the hospitals.” The Waikato Hospital Board advised the Council that the current year’s levy required from the Otorohanga County Council will be £2729. an increase of £729; which will mean an increase of about one-third in the hospital rate. SPECIAL LOANS. The only loan raised during the year was the Mangaorongo Stream Drainage Loan of £lOOO from the State Advances Corporation at 3s per annum. RAGWORT. The Agricultural and Labour Departments have continued the financial assistance during the whole of the year and over 13,000 acres were treated with sodium chlorate and lime. £2718 worth of sodium and lime •was actually bought from the Council. It is gratifying to know that practically the whole of European-owned land is reasonably under control. It is not known at present just how soon the scheme will be continued. The Council have made urgent representations to continue as soon as possible. At a conference held in Hamilton on the 16th inst I was appointed a delegate with four others to wait on the Minister of Agriculture at the Waikato Winter Show, to urge a continuation of the scheme. EXTERMINATION OF RABBITS. Under Unemployment Scheme No. 13, the Council again handled the subsidy provided by the Government to the Otorohanga Rabbit Board. Effective work being done; on the average four men being employed. DANGEROUS CORNERS. The Council obtained a special grant of £4076 for removing dangerous corners along school bus routes, two-thirds of the grant being expended by 31st March, 1939. ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE. The result of the year’s operations has been most satisfactory as to public works. The generosity of the Government in providing grants has enabled the County’s metalled roads to be extended twelve miles, a considerable amount of widening and setting back corners has been done. Despite the increased amount of traffic, the exceptionally unfavourable weather experienced during the summer and the action of the Transport Department in increasing the loading on trucks, the County roads have been maintained in a satisfactory manner. The past year iias been an indication as to how weather conditions affect water-bound unacadamised roads and it is very evident to ensure an even surface in all weathers, roads must be paved with some material that will not disintegrate under changing weather conditions. STATE HIGHWAY. The construction of the Auckland

to Wellington Main Highway is very nearly finished as far as Otorohanga and the time has arrived to consider tar sealing some of the secondary main highways. CULVERTS AND BRIDGES. During the year four old bridges have been replaced by modern structures and a number of box culverts have been replaced by pipes. Owing to there being no provision in the Act to provide for the renewal of bridges by way of a special rate, it would be a wise policy to increase the general rates, at least in those that have bridges likely to be renewed in the near future, so that at the end of the financial year, a substantial credit balance is available in case of sudden need for renewal or expensive repairs. PLANT. A long felt want has been removed by the addition of a scooping outfit to the Council’s plant. 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 have carried out their duties. In conclusion, I wish to thank all members of the Council for their cooperation and consideration to myself as chairman, which I have much appreciated. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Since my last report, favourable weather conditions have minimised maintenance and has enabled contractors to make good progress. No. 2 section on Honikiwi main highway would have been finished, but for two extensive slips that have accurred and are in process of removal.

The metalling of parts of NgahapeKorakonui and Waverley Roads has been completed, and Ellis Road metalling will be completed in a day or so. The contractor for cutting back points on various roads in Mangaorongo Riding went away and left the work in a very unfinished state. The Riding staff has been put on to clean up and the contractors will be charged with the cost. The contract for Barber’s Road metalling which was referred to your special committee has been let to H. Vincent for £3Ol. The new scooping plant has been put into commission and is giving very satisfactory results. The Public Works Department notifies that it has completed metalling the followings roads, and that they are now under the care of the Council: Mangauika Road, 70 chains; Okoko Road, 58 chains; and MaihiihiHingaia Road, 4 miles 25 chains. Estimates for both main highways and Public Works had to be sent in at short notice.