OVERSPENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 10, 30 January 1942, Page 5

OVERSPENT

TWO COUNTY RIDINGS

-SOME DISAPPROVAL EXPRESSED

There wlas some dissatisfaction -expressed l when at this week's meeting of thre Whakatane County Council two riding memr ~bers stated that their funds were overslpent and l sought increased allocations- The Riding concerned were Waimana and Taneatua and l both claimed thlat extraordinary expenditure was the cause of their shortage.

When Cr R. F. Wardlaw asked ''for more funds for the Waimana Hiding the chairman pointed o.ut that a sum of £126 not on the estimates had been spent to provide for who had been called upon supply milk instead of cream. Cr T. G. H. Cawte (Galatea Rid- " ing) askeel why estimates were drawn up'if not to keep. He stated that to keep within the bounds of his estimates he had had to save all the year to obtain metal £or one essential road. He coukl easily have spent double the money available and it was not right that one riding should -economise so that another could overspend.; Cr Cawte did not suggest that funds had been mis-spent, but feared the practice of hurriedly spending up to the estimate and then applying for more funds might become general. When the chairman explained that extraordinary work had to be undertaken, the Councillor for Galatea pointed out that Waimana had been oyerspent last year also, and added that work estimated for in his riding had been "foregone so that special emergency work could be undertaken-

The member for Taneatua, Cr H. C. McCready, made no apology for seeking more funds. Farmers had been ordered to change from cream supply to milk and had to have roads able to carry the added weights. The work had been essential. Cr Cawte held that in special circumstances such as flood he could Oiore readily understand, but maintained that more economy should have been exercised. He wasi supported ioy Cr C. T. Smith, who said ■a policy of "get the money spent and get more" should be avoided. He added that if an increased allocation was made then only very urgent works should be authorised. Increases were granted to both ridings.