WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 72, Issue 6242, 14 June 1946, Page 3

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

COUNCIL’S OPERATIONS

REVIEW BY CHAIRMAN Before vacating the chair at the annual meeting of <the Waipa County Council on Tuesday, Mr S. C- Macky presented the following annual report for the year:— In presenting my annual review ef the operations of the council over the past year, I have pleasure in being able to report a generally satisfactory position. Owing to the abnormally dry summer experienced, ordinary road maintenance became a nightmare, as owing to the complete lack of moisture, the work of the graders became well nigh ineffective on roads carrying any volume of traffic.

In consequence, much dissatisfaction was expressed at the running surfaces provided, and the dust nuisiance created, with the often reiterated opinion that sealing was the onljf solution. While during the year, the 2nd World War, which was responsible for retarding all progressive works, came to a conclusion, in, which we all rejoice, it is obvious 1 that the difficulties created thereby are far from being removed. The greatly increased costs engendered in consequence, are still with us, and likely to be while the difficulty in obtaining plant and material is far from being removed. In consequence, -the prospect of starting any large scale sealing works at the present time would appear to be an impossibility, and an uneconomic proposition. It is, however, hoped that if assistance from the Highways Board is forthcoming, that during the current year, we will be able to resume the scheme in hand on sealing high/ways when the war intervened. It is anticipated however, that the cost will be considerably enhanced l . It would appear that the best prospect of an extended sealing scheme lies in the implementations of the suggestions in the Parliamentary committee’s report, whereby all motor taxation is made available for roading, and rates levied by county councils for <the purpose are subject to £1 for £1 subsidy. The suggested relief from this source and from hospital rating would also make more money available for roads without increasing the present rate. Councillors and ratepayers alike are urged to use their best endeavours to this end, and if nothing is done beforehand, to make it a matter of paramount importance at the forthcoming general election. The statement of accounts again shows a sound position as regards the county fund. The financial year ended with a balance of £43,584 8s 6d, as against £44,732 3s Id at 31st March, 1945, a decrease of £1147 14s 7d. The total receipts for the year amounted to £134,475 14s 3d as against £82,674 10s Id in the previous year, and the payments to £90,891 5s 9d as compared with £80,319 Is 4d in 1944/45 year. A reconciliation with the various accounts shows the position at 31st March as follows:

County fund account B.N.Z. £19,889 10s lid; Liberty Loan B.N.Z. £5000; Imprest account B.N.Z. £300; Loan account B.N.Z. £2216 7s 2d; Loan account fixed deposit £2000; Loan account Bomber Bonds £9999 10s; National Savings £lOB4 15s; Plant renewal account P. 0.5.8. £3114 5s 2d; Gravel pit renewal account £162 12s 4d; Cash in bank £423 16s Id; £44,190 16s Bd, less outstanding cheques to <the value of £606 8s 2d, making a total of £43,584 8s 6d. The public debt position is as follows:

The Newcastle Road Board inscibed loan of £503 Is 4d matured during the year, and there is now only £6Bl 8s of these treasury loans outstanding. The council will be interested to learn that during the next four years the undermentioned loans will mature and there by ease the annual commitments by a substantial sum:—

Mature in 1947: Cambridge high level bridge loan £l5OO, oversubscribed £106; annual charges £73 2s 6d. Roto-o-rangi road loan £BO, oversubscribed £4, annual charges £3 18s. Mature in 1948: Horotiu special area loan: £l5O, oversiubscribed £l7, annual charges £7 6s 4d. Rangiaohia road board loan: £2OOO, oversubscribed £231, annual charges £97 10s. . Mature in 1949: Koromatua loan (inscribed): £3OB, oversubscribed £3OB, annual charges £lO 15s 7d. High level bridge: £2625, oversubscribed £373, annual charges £132 Ils 4d. Kakepuku special area road loan: £2500, oversubscribed £584, annual charges £213 14s lOd. Mature in 1950: Koromatua inscribed loan: £3lO, oversubscribed £3lO, annual charges £lO 17s. Roads and bridges No. 1 Inst, loan: £lO,OOO, oversubscribed £3522, annual charges £847 12s 6d; £7OOO, oversubscribed £2500, annual charges £595; £13,000, oversubscribed £5047, annual charges £llOl 18s.

Total: amount raised, £39,473; oversubscribed, £13,002; annual charges, £3094 6s Id. It is interesting to note that in four year’s 'time the annual charges on the c e loans will be wiped out, in view of the fact that in the near future (we hope), we will require to raise additional large sums for the completion of the highway sealing scheme, and consequently the additional annual charge required will be offset by the amount thus relieved of.

Short Period Loan: During the year 1938 the council raised from the State Advences Corporation an instalment of £9500 of the 1936 roads and bridges No. 2 loan for a term of ten years but repayable with interest at 31 per cent, per annum basis of a 20 year amortisation table with <the balance of £5567 17s lOd outstanding at the end of the 10th year, i-e. Ist December 1948, payable in one sum. With the low interest dates obtaining to-day, there should be no difficulty in arranging for the renewal of the unpaid balance of this loan on favourable terms. The nett loan debt on 31st March last inclusive of £7879, being the bal4 ance of principal outstanding in respect of advances made to farmers •under the Rural Housing Act, was £151,857 3s sd, a reduction of £8605 5s 6d on the previous year’s figures. From this has to be deducted the sinking fund credit balance of £991 Is lOd in the hands of the sinking fund commissioner. Administration Cost: The cost of

I administration is precisely the same as last year, viz. 4.2 per cent, despite the larger turnover. Of the European rates current for the year, £36,336 9s 4d was collected, or 8.85 per cent, compared with £34,566 18s 6d, or- 98.72 per cent, in the previous year, and in addition £515 13s 4<l arrears, and £29 7s 4d by way of penalty. With) the addition of £2500 Government subsidy, this makes a total return from rates of £39,381 10s, a rise of £1660 2s 3d from 1944/45. This satisfactory collection is due largely to our collector, Mr Grant, and his staff, and our- thanks are due to them for the excellent result achieved. The ’administration costs remain at the satisfactory low level of 4.2 per cent, of payments made, and is a reflection of careful management on the part of our executive staff. The Riding balances at 31 March, this year, are as follows, with last year’s for comparison:— Newcastle, £1728, (£2146); Hamlilton, £7lB, (£594); Tuhikaramea, £llO6, (£937); Rukuhia, £1294, (£1061); Pukekura, £1146, (£1142); Kaipaki, £lO6B, (£900); Mangapiko, £969, (£825); Rangiaohia, £2566. (£2092); Orakau, £2849, (£2293); Kakepuku, £lOB6, (£964). Total, £14,530, (£12,954). This shows the fund to be £1576 in excess 'of last year’s balances, with < all Ridings participating in the increase with the exception of Newcastle, which is in a slightly worse position. It Would appear that the same rate as was struck last year will be sufficient for the current term, with the exception of course of the hospital rate, the rise in which is likely to cause many heart-burnings unless some immediate relief is forthcoming to ease the position. Another rate that may come to charge this year, is that which will be required if the proposed catchment board comes into existence. County representatives were successful in stalling this proposal temporarily wlhen they recently met a delegation from the rivers control and soil conservation council in Hamilton. Consideration however, was only adjourned, and the proposition will be discussed again at a further conference on the 26th of this month. Your delegates would appreciate a direction from the council as to what their attitude should be in the matter. With the end of the war and the demobilisation of o(ur servicemen, their repatriation into civil life is presenting many difficulties, and the generally unsettled condition of the world is giving cause for much anxiety. In particular, those of our mien desiring of settling on the land . are meeting with many obstacles and I hope that county councils, councillors individually and farmer ratepayers generally will do all in their power to assist where opportunity offers. The providing of as much food stuff as possible to relieve the present stringency is also a duty which devolves on all farmers. In conclusion, I wish to thank members and staff for their- cordial co-operation extended to me in my capacity as chairman throughout the year. Our appreciation is due to a loyal and efficient staff, both inside and out, for their excellent work during the year, and also to officers of the Works Department and Highways Board for their co-operation and assistance. I also wish cordially to acknowledge the help given by the Press in publicity matter and assistance in many ways. Cr. Onion, in moving that the report be received and that the chairman and executive officers responsible for its compilation, be thanked for it, said that the financial position was good and in regards the sealing of roads they had not made the progress deserved, but the war conditions had interfered with the programme set out. He thought with the chairman they should strongly urge to see all motor taxation be made available for the sealing of roads, otherwise an impossible burden would be placed on the ratepayers. If the recommendation of the Parliamentary committee on local government, that £1 for £1 subsidy be granted for that purpose, it would be a help. Cr. Onion went on to pay a tribute to the executive staff, and he thanked them for their services. A tribute to the press for accurate reporting of the council’s proceedings was made by the speaker who went on to say that there were many problems to face in the future, one of the greatest being finance to carry out the necessary works, and if the report of the Parliamentary committee was implemented it would be a great help. Cr. Hall, in agreeing with the remarks of the previous speaker, particularly in regards the sealing of roads, some of which he said were in a deplorable state due to the fact that the war had interfered with the proposed, works. Cr. Hall said he hoped that more labour and material would soon be available to do the work. Speaking of the work of the staff, Cr Hall said he was well acquainted with the excellent services rendered, and he expressed his appreciation of their services. The report was then aaoptcd.