ENCOURAGING RESULTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1934, Page 4

ENCOURAGING RESULTS.

The review of the past year’s operations of the Clifton County Council given by the chairman, Mr. H. A. Foreman, last week should have been very encouraging to ratepayers. The financial position was distinctly healthy. It is true that capital expenditure upon roads and bridges had been restricted by financial exigencies, but it is satisfactory to note that council members are satisfied that the roads in the wide area under their control, including those in the hinterlands of the country, were never in a better condition than they are to-day. The satisfactory financial position is due, of course, to the manner in which ratepayer's have accepted their responsibilities, and remembering the difficult year most of them have passed through the state of the country’s finances is the best reply to any fears that the rural community would fail in meeting its liabilities wherever possible. Similar results to that obtained by the Clifton County have been experienced by other local authorities. The Opunake Harbour Board, for instance, in spite of circumstances that press harshly upon its ratepayers, has felt justified in striking as small a rate as possible because ratepayers have shown such commendable efforts towards meeting their liabilities to the board. It is not exaggeration to say that throughout the province the same to make the best of difficult circumstances has been experienced by local authorities. Some have been more fortunate than others, but on the whole ratepayers throughout Taranaki have demonstrated their willingness as well as their ability to meet the charges inherent to the public services demanded by a progressive community, often at considerable individual sacrifice. It goes without saying that such determination merits also the elimination of all wasteful expenditure and the most prudent administration of local affairs in order that relief from the present heavy burden may be given as soon as possible.