THE COUNTY RATE.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13487, 5 June 1914, Page 4

THE COUNTY RATE.

FIXED AT 1 3-Bcl IN THE £

AN INCREASE OF 1-8 OF A PENNY.

A discussion took placo at the Wai<raea County Council's* meeting yesterday in regard to the rate to bo levied, i'or tlie ensuing year. . The chairman said tli.it the Council's revenue was £14,000 a year. They , had in hand £2200' to carry on until the rate came in next October. Theix* overdraft was £4700, and they had authority to borrow up to £10,000 from the bank. If they went to their limit they could increase their overdraft to £14,000. Their overdraft at this time last year was £4400; at the present time it was £4700. For the past two years their overdraft had kept about the same. This year the Council ha-J to face an additional expenditure of £700 for hospital and charitable aid, as well as'some thousands of pounds" if the Council intended to. keep their roads in •somewhat .better order than they were at present. If the Council anticipated tho extra. expenditure they would have to increase their rates by Jd or their overdraft by £20(50. The rate was now IJd. For his own part he would rather pay ,the extra $d direct than increase the overdraft.

Cr. Macmahon propt&eid''ihat! the rate be .the.same as'last year; .

In. seconding the motion Or. Drummond said lie did not approve of in-ici-e.asihg the rates. The<l!©duncil ha**}, been extravagant in the expenditure on , some of the roads, and thoy should bomore economical.

The chairman moved an amendment ..that ,-the rate be fixed at lid for thareasons ou'tlihed- by" him. Cr. Best seconded. For years pasft the Council had not had enough money to spend on their roads, which weregetting worse and worse. Cr. Hoult supported the motion. Cr. Hewetson said he would like to see the rate fixed at 1 3~Bd. The amendment was put and lost. Ayes: The chairman and Cr. Best. Cr. Hewetson moved as a further amendment that the rate be fixed at 1 3-Bd.

Cr. Corder seconded the, amendment because tho Council would 'have to meet the increased expenditure for hospital, and charitable aid.

The amendment was put and carried. Ayes: Crs. Hewetson, Best, Corder, -and .the chairman. Noes: Crs. Drummond, Macmahon, and Hoult. On being put as the substantive motion, the proposal to fix the rate at 1 3-8 d was carried on the voices.