COUNTY OF OTOROHANGA

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 72, Issue 6242, 14 June 1946, Page 5

COUNTY OF OTOROHANGA

ANNUAL MEETING OF COUNCIL CHAIRMAN’S REPORT “ I have much pleasure in stating that the amount of rates ' collected during the past year, £16)874, was'an increase of £1799 over last year’s figure and £1567 niore than; the previous' record,” said the chairman -(Ut J. L.; Wallis) at the annual meeting of-the : Otorohanga County Council;on Tues-j day. The financial position as disclosed by the balance-sheet showed the county to be in a sound financial position, the following figures being of interest: Ist April, 1945 net public debt, £34,154; paid off principal and sinking fund, £2945; net public debt, 31st of March, 1946, £31,209; less cash in bank and realisable assets over liabilities, £23,826; net liability at 31st March, 1946, £7383. During the year ending 31st March, 1947, £4750 in loans would have matured; principal paid off and sinking fund would total well over £3000; consequently, after allowing for realisable . assets, the public debt would be nil,, an achievement of which the Council had every right to be proud, said Mr Wjallis. Continuing, the chairman said the annual hospital levy this year was £7024, an increase of £2936. There was a credit balance at 31st March, 1946, of £859. In order to keep that sum intact as a reserve it would be necessary to increase the hospital rate by lid in the £, making a total rate of 2ad in the £, equal to the general rate struck by the Wharepapa riding last year. As the whole question of hospital rating was to be discussed at the conference of the Counties’ Association, to take place in July, it was suggested that the striking of the hospital rate be deferred until after the conference. The chairman said that once more the Council had to thank the Agricultural Department for providing a sum of £3500 by way of allocation for ragwort eradication; and again men land sufficient material were available for most of the year. An earlier start than usual was made in the task of eradication, which proved that better results were obtained by the earlier application of the treatment. There was a considerable demand already for the parties of men next season, and it was therefore proposed to begin operations early in July. The problem of eradication of ragwort was a serious one, and it could not’ be too strongly stressed that all farmers make every possible effort to deal effectively with the pest on their own farms, apart from any assistance received from the Council in supplying men and material. Mr Wallis said that the noxious weeds inspector, Mr Floyd, retired at the end of the season and the Council had been fortunate in obtaining the services of Mr Noel Smith, who had had nearly five years’ previous experiece with the Council. Funds in the bridges renewal fund account amounted to £1766, which would be some help when bridge replacement in permanent materials couid be undertaken. A 12-year programme of work for replacement in permanent materials of all bridges due for renewal was being prepared, and would probably involve a special bridge loan. After some years work had again been resumed on Mangaorongo willow clearing; ring-barking of the larger trees was being done first, to be followed by pulling. The proposed formation of a Waikato catchment board, including the -whole of Otorohanga county, was at present under consideration, said Mr Wiallis. There was little doubt that a board would be formed, with very considerable rating powers over the whole county. The length of metalled roads in the county was 337 miles. Public works grants at present being expended would increase that length as follows: Scown’s Road, 78 chains; Te Rauamauku Road, 1 mile 40 chains; Owaikura Road, 42 chains; a total of three miles. During the year a new Galion grader had been purchased out of general account, and a smaller machine was due this month. Heavy traffic fees collected during the year amounted to £1955, an increase of £4lO over the previous year. The number of licenses issued was 107. Despite the fact that petrol restrictions were still in force, the number of drivers’ licenses issued showed an increase of 156 over the previous year. Outside-staff difficulties were still a problem, and had caused delay in undertaking necessary maintenance work.

Continuing, the chairman said he wished to thank the Works Department and the Main Highways Board for the various works undertaken in the county and for the courtesy and assistance of the local officers of both bodies. He expressed his thanks to the clerk, engineer, and staff for the very efficient manner in which they had dealt with their duties. Concluding, Mr Wiallis thanked the councillors for their co-operation and consideration during the past year.