A Council’s Concern

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 64, 9 March 1933, Page 5

A Council’s Concern

Over Government Threat CONTROL BY A COMMISSIONER IF WAI ROA COUNTY DOES NOT PAY INTEREST PAYMENTS ARE OVERDUE (Per Press Association) WAIROA, This Day. For some time past, since the coming of the slump, the Wairoa County Council has found it very difficult to collect rates due by property-owners. These ratepayers in the past had been quite exemplary in this matter, and many of them were greatly perturbed on the rumour gaining currency some days ago that the Government had threatened to put a receiver in charge of the finances of the Wairoa County Council —in other words to put the bailiff in. The offence was that the council was behind in the payment of some £7300 to several State lenders, and during the month, to be precise the day after the last meeting, the council received a letter from the Minister of Internal Affairs omitting the use of the word receiver and advising that, unless interest payments were made, legislation would be brought down authorising the appointment of a commissioner to control the county. On the advice of the chairman, the clerk wrote acknowledging same and stating that the matter would be dealt with at this week's meeting. At Wednesday’s meeting a letter was read from the Minister advising that unless satisfactory’ arrangements, were made tor payment of the interest due by the council to the three State lending departments it is proposed to bring down legislation authorising the appointment of a commissioner to have control ot the county. While the full letter was being read there were some tense moments in the council chambers, and one or two showed lines of indignation in their faces. The chairman, Mr. A. G. Nolan, said that the letter was most uncalled for, and he would not take so much notice if it came from a departmental head, but from the Minister, who ought to know something of the worries of finance, it was an unthinkable action. The council, he went on tc say, advised the department that they would not be able to pay at the due date, but would consider the whole matter of payment by March 31, and this letter from a Minister of the Crown, who should have been able and willing to assist with advice, was just simply “rubbing it in" —and without warning. The clerk stated that the council had never refused payment, but had intimated more than once that they would go into the matter before March 31. That was the intention all the time. Cr. G. C. Ormond advised paying half :*ow, if possible. The chairman said that they should pay the lot if they could do so, and they might be able to do it. The clerk stated that a great deal of the outstanding rates which should have come, in to help the council meet its liabilities accounted for much of the trouble, being due to the Crown tenants defaulting. The chairman then moved that the Minister of internal affairs be advised that the council takes strong exception to the threat contained in his letter seeing that the council had advised the lending authorities that, the matter would be considered in March; that much of the trouble was caused through Crown tenants not paying their rates, and the Government not providing any machinery for the collection of same; that it should have withheld its action till the council had considered the matter in March; that a list be sent in of all Crown tenants who had defaulted.” The motion was carried unanimously. The; clerk, in reply to a question, stated that there was actually only six months interest overdue. Gauging the feelings of the members the effect of putting in a commissioner would mean the setting to

one side of the chairman, who draws the munificent sum of £9O per annum for giving practically all his time to the council’s business, in favour of a commissioner at about £BOO a year, who would need his own staff. It would also mean a slap in the face to councillors who had given years of service at great personal discomfort and .expense in carrying on the work of the county under extreme difficulties.