COUNTY RATES.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18691, 18 July 1932, Page 11

COUNTY RATES.

SUBSIDIES AND REBATES.

CONCENTRATED THOUGHT NEEDED

(By “The Loiterer.”)

Acquaintance with county councils In both Islands, and more or less knowledge of their policies and projects, gives the writer some confidence In expressing the opinion that, taking a period of about a decade for comparison, the Matamata County Council .has displayed, under the chairmanship of Cr. J. W. Anderson, more courageous and effective initiative than any other county council in New Zealand. Those who are familiar with Matamata County Council’s more, recent history will recollect that it was the first council in the Dominion to prepare to take advantage of the Main Highways Act, and was moving definitely in anticipation wuile, others were "feeling their feet" and waiting to see what would happen. They and their present engineer have had the satisfaction of being the recipients of compliments from high quarters to the effect that they had transformed the roads of the county from being amongst the worst to; New Zea.and up to the standard of the best. This council also initiated very important proceedings with a view to minimising the costly overlapping of cream cartage on the roads, very accurate and exhaustive data having been prepared by the engineer, Mr M. If. W. Fitzgerald, submitted .to the council and approved, being duly acted upon as far as was possible without being “ ultra vires.” Besides possessing a chairman of broad views and long and varied experience, the council has generally included a few men of very constructive minds, who were not afraid to father r policy because it was new or contained some risks, and they possessed the ability to analyse various ,pro- • posals effectively. This combination, advised and guided by an engineer of widely-recognised ability, has at times handled some big propositions, and contributed generously to the pool of knowledge' and ideas in county council circles. It is interesting to note thai Matamata is again moving in matters of moment to counties everywhere, and meeting with solid support so far, . . Relieving the Ratepayers. Recently the Matamata County Council circularised other councils seeking support for, a proposal that county rates be subsidised by at least 30 per cent, and a number of replies has been received. The most, interesting reply comes from the Waimairi County Council, whose ' suggestion is worthy of attention. It is that the 12J per cent, rebate being “ a cumbersome thing to operate," instead of increasing the rate per cent, to 30 the 5s in the £ subsidy should be raised to 7s 6d. That suggestion seems ao the writer to be worth concentrated examination, for the 12A per cent, rebate has several unsatisfactory features, and it has come rather as a bombshell for councils to learn that the ordinary subsidy does not apply to that portion of the rates affected by the rebate. Moreover, Waimairi’s proposal that such J -increased subsidy should apply to all rates, that is to special and general, makes a powerful appeal. Special rates are incurred because, the general rates are Insufficient to pay for capital improvements required, and are an additional burden, and they 6hould certainly bo augmented by whatever subsidies are obtainable for general rates. The • only exceptions should be rates for hospital levy, water or any services other than roßds and bridges, including necessary drainage works for the benefit of roads. Far-reaohlng Importance. By opposing the absence of the ordinary’ subsidy on rales affected by the 124 ,per cent, rebate, and by urgins an altogether larger subsidy, the Matamata County Council has launched upon a very Important programme no! only for itself, but in the national interest. Back of all lies the salient economic fact that the ratepayers are competing in their farming operations with farmers of Denmark and other countries where agricultural land is not rated for either roading or hospital purposes, and thus our competitors have a very substantial advantage, over us, much more than may he offset by a ’io per cent, tariff. Full derating may he neither practicable nor desirable in the conditions obtaining in New Zealand, this being a matter of controversial opinion but there can belittle doubt that a substantial measure of relief from, rates is a pressing necessity If primary production for export, the basis of this Dominion’s stability, is to be even maintained in volume, to 6ay nothing of expansion. Ratepayers everywhere, and others too who understand the issues Involved, will heartily approve of the Matamata County Council’s ,present moves, and wish that body’ a full measure of succesJ.