RATES RAISED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7076, 4 July 1949, Page 3

RATES RAISED

HONIKIWI RJDING

ABNORMAL MAINTENANCE ON ROAD

The general rate for the Honikiwi Riding has been increased from 5Jd to 6d, as a result of abnormal expenditure on maintenance work last year. The Waipa, Te Rau-a-Moa. Mangaorongo and Wharepapa ridings’ rates will be unchanged from last year. These decisions were reached at the meeting of the Otorohanga County Council held last week.

Rates Struck

The general rates struck for the various ridings are as follows:—Te Rau-a-Moa 51d; Mangaorongo 4gd; Waipa 5Jd; Wharepapa 4 5/16d; Honikiwi 6d, The Hospital rate has been fixed at 1/d in the £.

A suggestion was put forward that the Honikiwi rate should be increased from s>l to 7d to meet the estimated debit balance of £836, which included an estimate of £5OO, the riding’s share of the reconstruction of the Otorohanga-Pirongia Road. Cr Grierson protested strongly against this increase, maintaining that the past year had produced an abnormal amount of maintenance work, changing the riding account from a credit to a debit, position. It was unfair to assume that two such years would follow one another. Cr Grierson moved that if an increase in rates was necessary, that it should be Id only. This was seconded by Cr Rothery. Recurring Debit

The chairman asked Councillors for their opinions on the matter and Cr Wynyard suggested that a larger rate would have the effect of bringing the Riding out of its difficulties sooner.

Cr Walters bontended that to ignore the debit balance would only be postponing the evil day. Maintenance would always be necessary in the riding, and so the debt would always remain, recurring every year. He considered that this year would be the most opportune to make any additional rate, while the ratepayers were prosperous.

Crs Hall and Jamieson agreed with the previous speakers, adding that the amount would be harder to pay off in the future than it would be in the present. Cr Grierson claimed that this was the first year the riding had showed a debit balance, and this was only due to an abnormal amount of maintenance work caused through slips resulting from heavy rain. He voiced an objection to being advised by Councillors whose ridings had been in debt for many years. He was sure that a 6d general rate would cover the estimated expenditure, provided maintenance could be reduced by £l5O and the £5OO for the Otoro-hanga-Pirongia Road was deleted. The chairman gave his support to Cr Grierson’s motion, on the condition that the position be reviewed next year, and the rate of 6d in the £ was decided upon.