NO INCREASE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 79, 8 June 1943, Page 5

NO INCREASE

COUNTY RATES TO STAND

HALF-PENNY REDUCTION

DISCUSSED

The question of whether or not the County Council should exercise the recommendation that the general rate should this year be reduced by one half-penny was discussed at some length by the County Council at its last meeting and finally it was- decided to leave the position as it stood at present in view of the existing circumstances.

Gr McCracken said he considered it a wise procedure to maintain the council's credit in the same healthy position. He felt that it vas not right to build up a reserve without some special reason for doing so, but he felt that at the present time the council had that reason in view of the amount of construcional work which would have to be undertaken in the post war period. The surplus would also accommodate the council and save it the necessity of going to the bank for overdraft.

Cr Hunter said that farmers generally were fairly prosperous to-day and it was no burden to meet the rate. This was partially due to the fast that they could not find avenues to maintain their farms. Gr Luxton: The farms throughout the county are slipping back, through lack of labour and if we. build up a reserve we shou-d when farmers are able to get their labour back be able to assist them by financing some of the cost. The meeting then decided, to strike the rates as they stood.