COUNTY ADJUSTMENT.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1281, 15 August 1922, Page 5

COUNTY ADJUSTMENT.

OTOROHANGA AND WAITOMO.

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM

(Resident Representative.)

Messrs! Phillips and Patterson, solicitors to the Otorohanga County Council, wrote to that body at its meeting yesterday reporting on the matter of adjusting a'ocoun'ts with the Waitomo County Council, stating that they had notified Mr Finlay (the Waitomo County solicitor) that Otorohanga County was willing to pay (1) our proportion of the Riding overdrafts for Otorohanga, Hangatiki, and Te Rau-a-moa ridings. This amr ounts to £3910 10s 7d ; (2) our share of administration expenses for months of April and May, 1922 (29 per cent.) until/the Waitomo Council took office; (3) to refund moneys spent by Waitomo in Otorohanga County since March, 1922, except expenditure recoverable by Waitomo County from Government subsidies ; (4) Compensation for any reserves taken over by Otorohanga County (71 per cent, of their value.) ; (5) Portion of Otoro-hanga-Pirongia Bridge rate as the same as collected. Otorohanga’s share will total £249 18s; (6) the correct localised ■"amounts of arrears of interest and sinking fund on various loans over special rating areas in thisdistrict. This amounts to about £I7OO to £IBOO ; (7) Any interealt and sinking fund paid by Waitomo County Council and Otorohanga loans since 31st March, 1922 ; (8) £lO towards engineering on expenditure of subsidy for clearing willows from the Mangapu in Otorohanga County. We ask that Waitomo pay us (1) all subsidies and grant® unexpended (2) all unexpended loan moneys; (3) subsidies on rates collected in 19211922 financial year ; (4) rates collected from Otorohanga County since 31st March, 1922. These amount to about £412. (5) Compensation (29 per cent) of the present value of all reserves, plant, machinery, offices and fittings taken over by the Waitomo County; (6) That portion of the old bridge rate .collected from Otorohanga County. Waitomo ha® on band £766 8s 7d, of which about 29 percent was collected from’ Otorohanga County ; (7) £IOO due to Waitomo County from the Kakepuku Road Board as a contribution to metalling the Kawa Station Road.; (8) all unexpended thirds and hypothecated thirds from this County.

The following at present are the subject of further discussion. (a) What reserves (if any) the Waitomo wants on 'the Waipa River. (b) Whether reserves should be considered as commeruial propositions (c) the reserves should be taken at present value or at cost; •(d) Whether plant should be valued at cost; (e) * Whether Otorohanga County should be debited at all with plant not needed for the district, such as'crushers, scarifiers, and the “white truck; (f) Whether the County fund should be charged with 'the white truck or whether it should be charged •to the Pio Pio Main road metalling loan ; (g) Whether settlement should be by payment of the net balance found due or be by payment of the total debts, as a. cross payment of net balance would only strain, finances of the Otorohaga County. The report was received,, and its consideration held over till next meeting.