THIS YEAR’S RATES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4194, 9 June 1939, Page 5

THIS YEAR’S RATES

BOROUGH COUNCIL CONFIRMS DECISION. AFTER ATTEMPT TO SECURE REDUCTION. Those who take a direct interest in. borough affairs were aware of the opposition to the proposal of the Borough Council to strike the current year’s rates, totalling Is 2-}d as a consolidated rate, plus Id water service rate (or 10s), and a rubbish removal charge of 12s 6d. A fortnight ago the Council decided after a division, to strike the rate, and its intention was duly advertised, for confirmation at a special meeting on Thursday evening. When the subject was introduced last evening Cr C. J. Spiers intimated his intention to move, as an amendment to the formal confirming motion, that the amount be reduced by three-farthings, which was equivalent to the £747 budgeted for to pay the cost of compensation in connection with the widening of Sloane Street. Cr Spiers said he would repeat his statement at the’ previous meeting, that the Council had been proceeding along the wrong track. The Highways Board had not refused a contribution towards the cost, and the Mayor, before leaving New Zealand, had declared very definitely that the ratepayers would not have to pay. To provide for payment out of the current year’s rates was only courting trouble, for if the money was collected from the ratepayers the Highways Board may decide against payment of all or any of it. There seemed, he added, to be a good deal of feeling in the business area over the matter, and he thought the item should be deleted. He therefore moved that the item on the estimates for Sloane Street widening be deleted. The town clerk said it was not a separate item. If it was crossed out now the whole procedure would have to be gone through again. Payment of the compensation was a liability. If the Highways Board later paid the cost, the money yvould go into the general fund—and it would all be needed. Cr Sterritt agreed that the Council would need the extra money. Ci- Spiers said his contention was that the Council was not required by law to provide for it. The town clerk said he had mentioned the matter to Mr Hall-Jones, who had replied that he could give no. assurance that the Highways Board would pay all or any of the cost. However, if the Council changed its decision of the previous meeting there would be a good deal of delay. He had the rate notices printed, and was getting them ready to issue. To change now would delay matters about three months.

Cr Spiers: Not three months! The 1 Deputy Mayor said that at last meeting the Council did not have all the facts before it. Had the town clerk told the Council that they were going to collect the water rate he for one would have opposed such a heavy rate, but he really believed the water rate’ would not be collected, even though it was struck. Referring to the Sloane Street compensation, Cr Monteflore said Mr Hall-Jones had sent forward the estimate of the cost to the Main Highways Board. It would probably be paid. However, in any case, had the Council known that the 1 Main Highways estimates would include the £750 there would have been no need to provide for it in the Council s estimates. Cr Brookes had totalled up the various items on the estimates and made the total Is 2|d. The bombshell came when the Council found that it had to collect the water rate. The Council might have hesitated had it known of that in advance. Continuing, Cr Monteflore said that in the light of fuller information he was inclined to “turn turtle.” He had not fully understood the position. Cr Rowan said he gathered there were two versions to the story of the Highways Board attitude. However, the town clerk had set the actual position very clearly before the Council, and that officer was not to blame. In any case, if the contribution was only £4OO or £5OO that money would be needed. That amount would not lessen the general rate appreciably. The rates this year for Te Awamutu compared very favourably with other towns of the same size. Cr Spiers said he also had been misled. He had simply taken Cr Brookes’ figures, showing a total of Is 2ld. The clerk had said afterwards that the water rate of Id would have to be collected. With that addition it was, in his opinion, too much. Cr Brookes said he Jiad clearly asked if the penny water rate was to be collected. 411 councillors realised that the total was too high. After some cross talk Cr Brookes asked, if the amendment was carried, what would be the position? The town clerk said the printing of rate notices had already been done. He would have to start all over again. He wanted to get the notices issued. Cr Brookes said that in that case nothing could be done. If the Highways Board makes a contribution the funds could be used to good purpose. The town clerk pointed out that as a big ratepayer he did not want high rates, but he believed the present rate would be n’eeded.- His Impression .was that the smaller ratepayers did not object; it was the larger ratepayers who were “kicking up the fuss.” Cr Armstrong seconded the amendment to reduce the total rate. Cr Brookes: I voted against the total rate being so high at last meeting, but I cannot see how you can alter things now. The rate was agreed to at last meeting. Anyhow, all the money will'be needed. Cr Spiers said if the item were deleted the total rate could be reduced by three-farthings. After some further talk, it was proposed to put the amendment, to reduce the rate, when the town clerk cautioned the Council about certain delay If the rate were altered, and he repeated his comment about the bigger ratepayers opposing the agreedupon rate. Cr Brookes commented that it would be nice to see those men round the Council table doing their full share of the work of administering borough affairs. He added that the amendment was a direct negative to the motion to confirm the rate. The motion was then put and carried, Crs Spiers and Armstrong voting against it.