RATES INCREASED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 135, 9 June 1934, Page 8

RATES INCREASED

THE WANGANUI COUNTY EXPENSE CUT TO MINIMUM. Estimates were adopted by the Wanganui County Council yesterday involving a small increase in the rates in all ridings except one—Kaitoke, which will be asked to find the same rate as last year. Tire Alangawhero and Morikau Ridings go up from Id in the £ to l]d, Mangamahu, Purua and Kaukatea from five-eighths of a pennv in the £ to 4dKaitoke remains at 4d in the £. Cr. D. McGregor (Purua) opposed an increase in the rate in his riding. All his ratepayers, he said, with tire exception of four, were dairy farmers. The levy could very well be left as it was last year. 4 'Lt is not often that I go against the member of a riding, but 1 am afraid I will have to do so on this occasion.” •said the chairman (Air. Duncan Mackintosh). ”We. as a council, with tire engineer, should have a better opinion as to what the roads require for upkeep than the ratepayers. I fail to see how the. Purua Riding could carry on wit': out the. increase- Th*e engineer, when he frames these estimates, is as conservative as it. is possible to be.” Crs. T. Alitchell. A. Collins. J. J. Lissettc. and J. Kennedy spoke in a similar strain, and on Ireing pur to the meeting the increase was supported, Cr. McGregor voting against it. Cr. A. Rice (Kaukatea) said that he would like to see his rate kept at the same amount as last year. His riding had coine through with a good surplus last year and he thought that was sufficient to keep the rate where it was. The chairman pointed out that the bridge on the No. 3 Line (near the Okoia School) had to be done this year. | That work could not be put in hand without an increase in the rate. Cr. D. McGregor: Carry that e.sti mate forward to next year. Cr. Rice: That will not get me anywhere- The bridge will still have to be paid for. It is very urgei t. After further discussion Cr. Rice his objection to the increase on the ground that the new bridge was vitally essential. All councillors regretted that the necessity had arisen to increase rates in their ridings, but realised that the estimates were cut to a minimum. The estimates as framed were adopted. The Wanganui Hospital Board advised that its levy on the county would be £1952 17s, which was approximately £2OO more than last year. The Harbour Board intimated that its rate over that portion of the county within the haibour district would be one-fifth of a penny in the £, slightly more than last year.