YEAR IN REVIEW

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 123, 27 May 1938, Page 3

YEAR IN REVIEW

RANGITIKEI COUNTY CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT The chairman of the Rangitikei County Council, Cr. K. W. Dalrymple, presented the following report on the council's activities for the past year: The year has been marked with a departure from the riding system of finance to one of uniform general rating as decided by a majority of the council prior to the commencement of the financial year. The credit balances of the several riding accounts at March 31, 1937, were: —Rangitoto £lBO7 10s Bd, Otakapu £1356 18s 3d, Porewa £2089 3s lid, Wangaehu £432 15s 2d, Rangatira £2059 11s 3d, Otain £B6l 8s Bd, Te Kapua £669 13 s 6d, Awarua £794 16s 7d, Erewhon £1336 18s lid, Ruanui £1309 2s sd, total £12,717 19s 4d. These balances were on April 1, 1937 transferred to the general account and the estimates were framed for the county as a whole with the levying of a uniform general rate of 9s lOd of a penny in the pound to provide the anticipated revenue required. The general rate calculated on the rateable Vc-.lue of all rateable property in the county including native lands, was estimated to provide £32,741, but, of course, allowance had to be made for native rates, etc., which would likely not be collected within the financial year. The actual collection of general rates including arrears, however, reached £31,986 7s 4d, which, I am sure, exceeded anticipations and emphasised the stability of the county notwithstanding the difficult situation that had been created by the recent depression and the effect of recent legislation affecting the farming community. Taken generally, the year’s operations have disclosed a very satisfactory position from the financial standpoint. The revenue under a number of headings, especiI ally licenses and plant earnings, has (shown a marked increase over and I above what was anticipated. The expenditure as a whole has been within i the estimate, but this is largely aci counted for by the delay occasioned i in the year's main highways construction programme for causes over which i the council had no control. i The only item in which the expendiI Lure showed any marked increase I over and above the estimate was lor i the building of the new county oflices, 1 the expenditure for the year being 115551 11s 9d, whilst the estimate amount was only £3750. Although provision was made on the estimates for the completion only of the second section, the council deemed it advisable to proceed with the third section comprising the new council chamber, strong room, councillors' private room and corridors, etc., and 1 feel sure this decision was fully justified. The offices are now nearing completion and the official opening will take place shortly when fullei information as to the total cost of the work, etc., will be furnished. The result of the year's operations left a credit balance in the general account at March 31, 1938, of £8932 19s 9d, as against £12,717 19s 4d last year. Certain contingent liabilities, however, have to be met from this credit, especially those relating to main highways construction where the contracts have been let and the works are still in progress. General Summary The receipts for the past financial year under all headings and excluding transfers, amounted to £110,768 12s lid as compared with £97,115 in the previous year, while the expenditure came to £108,620 4s 7d, as compared with £106,969 2s 7d in the previous year. Main Highways.-In regard to the expenditure it will be noted that the amounts for main highways are much below the previous year's figures, but this is largely accounted for by the fact that the year’s programme for construction had not been completed as previously referred to, and that the council reduced the amount of work proposed to be done. Public Works—General AccountExpenditure on public works other than main highways and formerly charged to general and riding accounts, but now charged entirely to the general account, is much in excess of the sum spent in the previous year, the increase being £15,374 8s 4d This increase is largely due to higher costs and also that tne council considered it necessary to spend a larger amount on metal and repairs to maintain the roads and bridges throughout the county, and to bring them up to a standard considered necessary in order to cope with the ever increasing road traffic. There is every indication that these charges will continue to increase and become a still heavier burden upon the ratepayers, unless more of the revenue derived from motor taxation is made available to county councils to maintain the roads in the countries, where so much of the revenue is earned. Public Works —Separate and Grant Accounts—With reference to wotks under the separate and grant accounts, the council has been fortunate during the year in securing authorities from the Government for subsidies on a £3 to £1 basis for metalling a number of the unmetalleu roads in the county. A commencement has been made with this metalling programme and the works are being expedited as far as possible. r lhe settlers directly interested have reauily responded by making private contributions or consenting to loans foi the council’s share of tne outlay, and it would seem that this method is one that should be taken advantage of where ever possible. Unemployment Relief Works Unemployment relief works although not as extensive as formerly are stiL being carried out in w various parts the county under both the No. 5 scheme and under scheme No. xA These works comprise road formation, drainage, etc., and the settlers here again have contributed for the overhead expenses. The total expenditure for the year was £4814 7s 2d compared with £8999 Is 0d in the previous year. There is every likelihood of there being a continuance of the unemployment relief works in the Revaluation of the County. The work of revaluation of the county has now been completed with the exception of the Erewhon riding. The present rateable value is approximately £8,710,000 comprising boln European and native lands. The cos. to the council ot revaluation will be approximately £l4OO spread over four years. The dates at which the sev-

eral ridings were revalued are as follows: —April 1, 1935: Otakapu, Wangaehu and Awarua. April 1, 1936. Rangitoto, Porewa, Rangatira and Ruanui. April 1, 1937: Otairi and Te Kapau. Erewhon was revalued on l April 1, 1927. Noxious Weeds. —The council’s administration under the Noxious Weeds Act has again shown good results. The council during the year approached the adjoining local bodies in the hope that a similar system might be adopted in their districts, but it would appear from the reports when the matter was discussed, that as yet nothing will be done. Hospital Rating.—Last year’s levy showed an increase of £2362 3s 3ci over the previous year’s amount of £8978 0s 6d. It is anticipated that the ensuing year will show a further in crease bringing the levy up to approximately £12,000 and necessitating a rate of Is 3d in the pound. Stock Paddocks. —The council has been asked to make provision throughout the county for the accommodation of travelling stock. A limited expenditure under this heading has already been incurred, but any scheme of a comprehensive nature would require to receive veryfull investigation and consideration before the council would be justified in undertaking anything more, as the cost would amount to several thousand pounds, and the great majority of ratepayers do not require the accommodation. Planting of Trees.—The council has from time to time planted a number 1 of small areas in various partes of the county with suitable timber trees and the results have been very satisfactory. The trees (eucalypts varieties, pinus ponderosa, Douglas fir, sequoia serpervirins or redwood and cupressus macrocarpa chiefly) have made good growth and are getting beyond the fire danger stage. Timber suitable for temporary bridges could be cut now among the eucalypts. The area now under plantation would be about 120 acres, and I consider that it would be a good policy for the council to extend its operations in this direction.

New Drainage District

The council upon petition from the ratepayers in the Lower Wangaehu

Valley decided to constitute a new drainage district for that locality. A certain amount of work has alreadybeen done with relief labour under the No. 5 scheme, but these works will require to be extended and proper provision made for maintenance. When this work is completed the land affected will, undoubtedly, be much benefited. Estimates 1938-37. —It is hoped that the council will be in a position to finalise its estimates at the ordinarymeeting to be held on June 2, in order that the levying of the required rates can be proceeded with.