YEAR’S WORK.

Wairarapa Age, 24 May 1928, Page 5

YEAR’S WORK.

OPERATIONS OF MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL. A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT. FINANCIAL POSITION. The Clerk of the Masterton County Council (Mr. J. C. D. Mackley) at the annual meeting yesterday, submitted a comprehensive report covering the operations of the council for the year ended oti March 31, 1928. He stated, inter alia:— z “Notwithstanding the fact that during the winter months the council were called upon to assist the unemployed in Masterton it is pleasing to be able to place before the council a statement which disedoscs its finances to be in a very satisfactory position. In the County Fund Account, which is the principal account controlled by the council, the year’s operations ended with a cash credit balance of £4833 9s. 3d. The revenue from all sources for the year 1927-28 excluding loans amounted to £47,371 14s. 5d., while the expenditure was £46,955 3s. lOd.

“The receipts are detailed as follow: Bates, £27,578 3s. 4d (58.25 per cent.); rate subsidies, £2500 (5.25 per cent.); Main Highways subsidies, £7274 12s. 9d (15.3 per cent.); heavy traffic fees for allocation, £4355 12s. 9d. (9.2 per cent.); licenses, £l4Bl 14s. sd. (3.1 per cent.); refunds, contributions and grants, £4lBl Ils. 2d (8.9 per cent); total, £47,371 14s. sd. “Payments are detailed as follow:— Administration, salaries (including overseer and ranger), £1267 10s. (2.7 per cent.); public works, riding roads and main highways, £25,876 17s. 2d. (55.1 per cent.); water supplies, £559 Ils. lid. (1.15 per cent.); interest and sinking fund on loan, £4480 os. lOd. (9.3 per cent.); hospital levy, £3056 7s. 4d. (6.5 per cent.); heavy traffic fees allocated, £4227 8s: (9.0 per tent.); machinery, new machinery, upkeep and running expenses, £2807 17s. 6d. (5.95 per cent.); general expenses, £1896 18s. 3d. (4.4 per cent.); separate accounts and miscellaneous, £2782 12s. lOd. (5.9 per cent.); total, £46,955 3s. lOd. RATES COLLECTED. “The total rates struck during the year amounted to £27,565 14s. Id., and o fthis amount £27,157 75., or 98.5 per cent, was collected, and this position must be considered as highly satisfactory and proves conclusively the stability of the county. In addition to this amount arrears amounting to £357 os. 4d. were collected. It is anticipated that at least £250 of the amount out* standing at the end of the year (£4OB 7s. Id.) will be collected during the current financial year. With the exception of the Uriti and Wainuioru ridings, a general increase in rates for the year 1927-28 was made in all ridings and it is pleasing to be able to report that each riding completed the year with a satisfactory credit balance. “The erection of an up-to-date crushing plant at Te Ore Ore, was an important decision of the council during the year, and it is hoped to have this plant in operation at an early date. The total cost of the plant completed will be about £3lOO, and in purchasing the plant through the Main Highways Board on the hire purchase agreement system extending over a period of four years, the plant while being a distinct acquisition to the council will not mean an increase in rates. “During the year the sum of £14564 Is. Id. was expended on relief works for unemployed, and the men engaged worked very satisfactorily. It is proposed to complete the Twisted Creek Deviation by the unemployed during the current year should occasion arise. SURFACE SEALING. “The surface sealing of the Master-ton-Weber Highway from Totara Street to the Te Ore Ore-Bideford Road turnoff, was completed during the year, a total of / 7 chains of road being surface sealed at a cost of £l9 19s. sd. per chain. Provision has ben made in the current financial year’s estimates for a length of the Masterton-Tinui Highway to be treated in this manner. With the declaration of the Te Ore Ore-Bideford-Glendonald Road as a subsidiary highway, all ridings in the county have a main highway within their boundary. The council have now a grand total of 87 miles of Main Highways out of a total of 339 miles of metalled roads within the county.” Councillor W. I. Armstrong congratulated the Clerk on his comprehensive report, and his remarks were supported by other councillors present.