COUNTY RATES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 158, 9 July 1935, Page 8

COUNTY RATES

THE WAITOTARA COUNTY SMALL INCREASE NECESSARY. PROJECT ITLI.Y DISCUSS HD. SOMH STRAIGHT SPEAKING. A decision to slightly increase the rates for the current year was made by the Waitotara County Council yesterday. 'l’iie matter was debated for upwards of two hours, during which the estimates were closely examined. Hi the concluding stages the council was faced with the problem of either agree ing to the increase or being prepared to face a deterioration in the standard of upkeep of roads. Three members of the Brunswick - Westmere Riding Messrs. R. Farlev, A. A. Win wood, and R. Laird, were of opinion that the rate in that riding, at least, should remain the same as last year. The remainder of the council thought otherwise, pointing out that because had been used during the past financial year it had been possible to maintain a higher standard? of work. Brunswi -k-V estmere had been able to spend approximately £l2OO more than was collected in rates ami Waitotara £703. such sums being available by way ot surpluses brought forward. Finally, the council approved of the following rates: — Brunswick Westmere: Seven-eighths of a penny in the £ (last year twenty three thirty-seconds of a penny in the £l. Waitotara: Seven-eighths of a penny in the £ (last year nineteen thirty-seconds of a penny). Tokomaru: One penny in the £ (last year twenty-three thirty-seconds of a penny). Mosston: A halfpenny in the £ (last year fifteen thirty-seconds of a penny ). These levies conformed to the rccom mendation ->f the Finance Committee, except in the case of Brunswick-West-mere. For that riding the committee recomnrended a rate of one penny in the £. The council, by majority vote, compromised io the extent of’ making it seven-eighths of a penny. Councillors Farley, Laird and Winwood voted against, the seven-eighths, and favoured last year’s levy qf twenty-three thirtyseconds of a penny. (Jr. A. R. Rich ardson, the other Brunswick-Westmere representative, supported seven-eighths on the ground that he could not see the riding getting through on the same rate as last year. Fi-.iance Committee’s Work. ’The chairman (Cr. W. Morrison), outlining the interest the Finance Committee had taken in the matter, said that in the year 1924-25 the total rates levied by the council amounted to £13,847. J.ast year they were down to about half that. In his opinion the council had really let the rates get too low. Times had been hard during the past four or five years, and the council did not ask the ratepayers for any more than it could reasonably help. Mr. Morrison pointed out that the Bruns-wick-Westmere and Waitotara Ridings had had surpluses which had been spent, to keep the roads in repair. That had enabled the rates torome down. Now, the county was faced with the question of whether it should slightly raise the rates, which had really got too low, or whether it would let the roads go back. In his opinion it was false economy to allow an asset to deteriorate, if it. could possibly be helped. He ha<l noticed that, other counties, when they came to consider estimates, found, in nearly every instance, that rates would have to go up. The Waitotara rates were the lowest in the immediate Wanganui district. If the Brunswick-West-mere representatives were opposed to putting the rate up he would like to know where they intended to make a saving. Ho far as he could see it would mean putting off a surfaceman. Another matter to be borne in mind, too, was that Air. Dix had been able to collect a great deal of back rates (£3000) which money had been available, in the past few years. Cr. Richardson: Ami are there no more back rates to collect/ Mr. Morrison: There will be, but by the time you account for speeial rates there will be very little for the general fund of each riding. By the time the county has paid its ovehead, there is very little to spend on the roads. Engineer Speaks Out. Items in the estimates were then questioned fairly closely. Mr. Dix was asked whether he could carry on with the same rale as last year, and he replied that he could carry out whatever the council desired, but it. had to remember that it could not expect to get the river road metalled, badly as it needed it, or the Brunswick Road, or any other work like that. “I will carry out your wishes,’’ said Mr. Dix, ‘‘but I would be lacking in my duty if I did not show you the position. I don't like asking for a higher rate any more than you do. If councillors knew of what I have done lor the county, for the Brunswick-Westmere Riding in particular, they would be more grateful. I expect to be a ( hop ping block at election lime, but if anybody has complaints about the staff, why don't they bring them forward at the proper time? You will forgive me saying it. but it is hard to work under such conditions. It is terrible what some of the ratepayers bring ba< A Io me—com pkt i tits about, the, staff. The men don't know where they are and expect to be sacked at any time. I am proud of my staff, but it is impossible to work under such conditions. If there are coinphiints, why aren’t they brought forward to the proper Cr. R. Farley said that ;->> far as he knew the whole coun.il appreciated what Mr. Dix had done. He had not heard any compla’nts. Cr. Richardson; | only seeking information about these amounts on the estimates. Mr. Dix. I am only too pleased to give it Mr. Farley: We all get evr seats kicked. You are rot the only one, Mr. Mr. F. Handley; We should turn ou‘ the light, make the room dark, and jet anybody who has said anything out of place during the election put his hat on the table. Mr. Farley: Do you want a new hat, l‘’reil! i I ,aught er i. Mr. Handley: No. But. t thought it ought Io be doL’?. Mr. T. Alexander pointed out that the ridings of Westmere Brunswick ami Waitotara had used their surpluses over and above the rates eolheted last year. The council was now fated with

a. higher expenditure than during the past, live years. He could not see, how the finances could be carried on with out an increase in the rates. ‘‘The position, as I see it, is that, in 1924 the council levied £I3,OUU in rates, and last year that amount was down to £7,430.’’ said Cr. L. T. Jones. “Wt have the rates down too low. We have j exhausted all our credit balances, and we have to consider the state of the roads. It would be a cheaper proposi lion to raise the rates a little now. It has to be remembered, 100. that we will rate on a. vahition 25 per rent, less than the full figure. When you take that into consideration the rates will not go up to anything like what they were. I don't see any alternative but to raise them as the Finance CommitThe Ten Per Cent. Penalty | Mr Handley wanted a report wrought down showing who had paid the ten per cent, penalty and who had not. 1 He understood that the whok (ineslion of who escaped the penalty and who paid rested with the chairman and clerk. Mr Alexander: But the ■council must approve of whatever they do. Air Dix: It mu.-t come before the council to be entered in the minutes. Mr Handley: By getting this report we will see who has paid the penalty and who hasn’t. If the ratepayers know there are only two to dial with they will try and get out ol it. If it came before the, full council they mightn't bo so keen. Ur. Laird said he himself had paid the penalty and he knew of a man in his own district who hadn't. Mr Dix: But whether he is to be freed of tlie ten per cent, hasn’t been decided yet. 1. want the council to go into the whole thing and tell me who I am to prosecute. If L went ahead and did the thing myself the council could say I was showing favouritism or perhaps undue harshness. Air Handley: J agree that they should all be prosecuted. Air Winwood: 1 can’t see why one should pay the ten per cent, and an other get out of it. Air Alorrison: Circumstances alter Air Jones: They are all taken on their merits, Air Winwood: And you might very well let off the man who can afford to pay. Mr Jones: We might very well leave the ten per cent, alone for the moment and get ba'ck to rates for this year. 1 move that wc adopt the Finance Committee’s report and levy the rates as set out there. Air Farley: T wish we could. But it is not so easy as all that. It will have to be gone into riding by riding. A voice suggested lunch, as it was then one o’clock. Mr Alexander: We had better send out to Dustin, or somebody like that, to bring down sonic pies and we can got on with the job and have iunch at the same time. Air R. Laird: might as well catnp here at the rate we are going. Mr Farley said that times were hard. When the Mosston Riding area was attached to Brunswick-Westmere, it had been a nightmare. Unfortunately for Brunsvvi'ck-Westinere, they had metalled its roads from end to end. Prior to that there had been no metalled roads in Mosston. Air Laird; Somebody suggested lunch. 1 move we adjourn for half an hour, and make it a quick one. V oices: Hear, hear. The adjournnient was taken and the debate resumed at 1.45 p.m. Mr Aloriison: The Brunswick-West-mere members have had their heads together. Will they tell us briefly what they want I Mr Farley: Wil] you give us what wc want ? Mr Morrison: Wc will see after you tell us. Thu speaker went on to remind the council that it had asked the Highways Board for certain money. If the county was lightly rated it had less chance of getting it. The board took into consideration the burden of rates when making allocations. Surplus Not Wahted Air Farley was in hope that the rates would not be altered from what they were last year. It was true that, there had been a surplus in h.- riding, and quite rightly, the engineer had used it. Mr Morrison: D<l he waste t? Mr Farley: No. He put much-needed metal on the roads. It seems to me that if we keep pegging away we will come cut on the right side if we leave the rates as they are. Once before, when we wanted to lower ’he rate Mr Dix said he could not get through, but he managed it, and finished up with a surplus. I am sure that with Mr Dix at the head, and J am nut using soft soap, he will be able to gel through. If you put the rates up it means that the ratepayers will have to employ less men. If the fanners can’t employ labour it means cutting their throats. We lowered the rate once before and told Mr Dix to do his best. He did it and came through with a credit. I am satisfied the ratepayers can’t stand any more rates than they are paying now. We are al) unanimous that the rate should stay as it is in Brunsw i. ';-Westmere, and I don't think the -coumi! should decide it. Give each iidii'g some responsibilit v on its own, and .ct it deMr Morrison: You vvaat ea; ii .-eparate riding to be a county? Mr Farley: I say give la i. -.mar's rates a trial again, and 1 am aatistied we will gel through. I will move that the rate be the same as lust voar in Brunswick-West mere. •’ ’ M r Winwood seconded. Mr Moirison: Make it seven-eighths of a penny, Mr Farley, and let us be unanimous. Mr Farley; I am afraid I (ain't, Mr Richardson made his | n.'.tion quite clear. He had agreed with the I other riding members to support last ' year’s rate, but when lie looked at the I figures he could not see how tliev were going to gel through. He vv:i-. I here- ' lore, going to vole for Hie seven- I eighths of a penny. He <1- (>ct want ' the others lo think he v. a • letting ! them down. Mr Farlev: I have siilii', lent confi- | dmire in Mr l),x lo know that he will . get. through with the rate we ‘trike. | Mr Morrison: Then let us ask Mr Dix. Let him tell us what he can do. Mr Dix replied that ev ci v < ngineer was keen to see the standard of the ! roads maintained. He could certainly do what llm council wantcl, but there was no use leaving the rales am! then coming along ami anting the river bank or the Brunswick Road metalled. Mr Jones said that In l had gone into the amount of rales levied on various farms in his own riding (ToKomaru) and, with Mr Dix. had looked over the prnprrt ics in Brunswick-Wc:-1 mmr. fir had found that the aveia"« worked k

out at less than £5 a farm. For the sake of the small amount which wou.’d be added to each property by w hat was proposed it. was not sound policy to jeopardise the roads. Mr Alexander: There is one thing I want to draw' Mr Farley’s attention to. The Brunswick-Westmere Riding spent £!3S3 more than it collected iast year. 1 fail to see how Ihe riding can carry on if it hasn’t got that amount to spend and leaves the rate where it is. “Those Who Keep Asking’’ Ur. J. Uameron: There are >oine who are always coming here to ask for certain things to be done when we haven 't the capital to do it. It has always made tilings very difficult for this council. The >chairman suggests sevenI eighths of a penny for BrunswickI Westmere, but when the Finance Committee said « penny we could see a

j debit balance then; so if the rate reI mains as it was last year I tail to see I how the engineer can carry on and I meet the wishes of alt who demand so I much perfection. We all want justice done to ourselves as weil as to Bruust wick-West mere. Mr Farley lias said that Brunsw N'k-W csi mere has metalled , .viosston’s roads, but be forgets we i paid verv hand.>oniely for that metal, . and when we were cut adi.il from I Brunswick-West mere we were able Iw I save a comfortable amount cf £7UO, I which show • what a boon we were to j Brunswick-West mere in the past. That I anndiilales Cr. i arlev completely, j i I’rulonged laughter). Cr. Farlev might very well agree and assist the ( iigii.eer I to cai'iy out. a reasonable pit gi imme of I Mr Aloriison: Come on, Mr F.irley, j will you agree 1 o r:i-eiglit h- . . Mr Winwood: No, I cannot agree to :: .y increase in rates. ! .\t this . v l:ige a divis’on wa-' taken, i Mesas .Morrison, Alexandei, Cameron, [Jones, Handley aid Ri'.har-1.-’on supj ported se\en-eighl hs of penny for | | Brunsw i -k We.-i mere and Messrs Far- ► ley, Laird ami Winwood siippoiled last I ycar*s rate. The seven-eighths was I thus carried, the three opposing il asking that then' names be recorded in opposi| ion. ! Five minutes sufficed to deal with the three remaining ridings. After the clerk had read the formal motion, complete t<» the last legal woid, a hush de scended on the smoke-laden room, broken bv Mr Earley's voice—‘ We’ve go: quite quiet again. ' : One of the reporters was moving towards the door. ‘‘A’e you going home tu tca ' M r Earlev asked. The reporter: Ye- I'll he back after