Will Costs Spiral Compel County Council To Raise Rates?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 8, 19 December 1947, Page 5

Will Costs Spiral Compel County Council To Raise Rates?

A strong protest against the constant rises in costs of services was made by'.Cr Hunter at Wednesday’s meeting of the Whakatane County Council during consideration of the County’s contribution to the district Health Inspector’s salary and expenses. The Council faced a rise in cost of £67 a year. “I don’t agree,” said Cr Hunter. ■“We’re supposed to have free medical services. It all comes back on the man with a bit of land, and I think we should fight this thing.” Cr D. C. Butler said he would hate to see the district without a Health Inspector. . . In answer to Cr A. F. McGougan, it was explained that the alternative would be for the Council to appoint its own man. ♦ Councillors agreed that would not pay. Cr Hunter pointed out that there was a definite danger that rates would have to be raised in view of the all-round increases in costs, but he agreed with a suggestion that license fees collected by the inspector might be revised to help recover some of the increased cost of service.

Later, when staff salary adjustments were under discussion, the costs-wages spiral was again mentioned and the opinion expressed-by a number of Councillors that rates would have to rise if cost rises continued and if County works were to be carried out where necessary. Kutarere Wharf Advised by the Opotiki County Council that the estimated cost of putting the Kutarere wharf and shed in good order would be £450 the Whakatane County Council resolved at the monthly meeting on Wednesday that the Opotiki County Council be told that the Whakatane Council understands the full cost of the proposed maintenance works will be recouped by the Opotiki County Council from wharfages and that in the altered circumstances the Whakatane Council is not prepared to contribute to other than the interest and sinking fund charges on the 3/sth agreed basis. The letter from Opotiki said it was not possible to supply particulars of estimated Kutarere wharfage, as this would depend entirely on the amount of cargo handled over the wharf.

The chairman, Mr J. L. Burnett, said the Opotiki bar had recently been in such a bad state that it had been necessary to use Kutarere as a substitute.

Waioho Drainage Following ,a meeting with Waioho settlers, the Council’s works committee reported that the settlers had agreed. that a scheme for drainage of the Waioho Valley should be submitted by the County Council to the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council; in that the Council submit what, in its opinion, is the best drainage scheme and that when the rate of the Government' subsidy is known, a further meeting be called. The engineer was instructed to submit a scheme to the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council. Edgecumbe Sealing Though a lack of metal chips may prevent the completion of the work this summer, the Council decided to accede to the request of Edgecumbe residents and tar-seal the stretch of road between the corner of West Bank Road and a point say three chains beyond .Hunt’s butcher’s shop on the Railway Road, a distance of approximately 10 chains. This is a thickly populated and busy area comprising the Post Officer, store, butcher’s shop, fish shop, picture theatre and nine dwellings. The dust nuisance is particularly acute there. The County Engineer estimated the cost at about £3OO. Kuatahuna Roads The Native Department advised that notification had been received from Head Office to the effect that Estimates had been approved for work to be done in regard to the formation and improvement of roads affecting certain Native Development Schemes issued through the Public Works Department. Following is a list of the roads in question and the Authority which has been allocated thereto: Matatua—£3,soo access and present development, £ll6O future development, a total of £4,660; School Road—Ruatahuna, £BOO access to school and £llsO completion of loop, totalling £1,950. The Department emphasised the need for early commencement of the work so that the authority could be utilised during the current finan-

cial year. It is expected that the engineer attached to the Native Department, Mr G. Turnbull, will be able to call and discuss the matter at an early date. The Supervisor at Ruatahuna, Mr T. Morrison, has also been asked to confer in regard to the arranging of labour and any other details where he can assist. Resolved that the Department be advised that the Council does not consider it will be able to expend this grant before March 31, 1948, but every endeavour will be made to expedite the completion of the plans and letting of the tenders. Ohope Side School

The County Clerk reported that he had conferred with Judge Harvey in regard to the additions to the Ohope Domain and School site. Judge Harvey stated that his Department intended to ask the Council to call a meeting of all the interested parties so that this matter could, be finalised. It was resolved that the Native Department be advised that the Council agrees with the Department’s proposal and suggests that the meeting be held as soon as possible so that the Education Department will be in a position to go ahead with the erection of the side school at Ohope. Engineer’s Report The engineer, Mr C. H. Brebner, reported:—• “Matahi Road Bridge, Manawahe is in a state of collapse and a new structure will have to be built in the near future. The present bridge is 40 feet overall, but it should be possible to reduce this. Temporary repairs have been' carried out and the necessary notices erected reducing loading. An estimate and proposal for a new bridge will be submitted to the next meeting of the Council.

Rewatu Contract: A thin skin of gravel has been placed on the full length of this contract. Metalling has been held up .through wet weather and the contractors loader break ing down. Some 600 cubic yards of gravel has been spread to date leaving a further 1145 cubic yards to be spread. “Some 752 cubic yards of rock has been placed in weak places on Station Road. ■ A considerable amount of work is still required to bring the road up'-to the standard existing before it was damaged by flood. “The Galatea metal contract has been completed, some . 1950 cubic yards of gravel having been spread on the Te -Teko-Galatea Road where required. Hodges road drain has also been completed. It was necessary to pipe a short portion where* the banks were unstable. “All townships will receive attention in the matter of .cleaning up before Christmas. “The East Bank North road surface is now nearly ready for sealing. All depressions have been filled with stone and the surface coated with crushed metal. The roadway has been formed to a width of 30 feet. The sealing will proceed just as soon as the Borough plant is available. " Construction of a parking area on both sides of the roadway fronting the Edgecumba saleyards has commenced. Inspector’s Report

Inspector A. Carling reported dogs registered for 1947 totalled 2,728 and fees collected £541 14s.' From November 22 to December 8, drivers’ 2 licenses were issued, one applicant failed to pass the required test to drive a car. Five heavy traffic licenses were collected to the value of £49 3s 3d and 13 new heavy traffic licenses were taken out. The third quarter’s heavy traffic licenses are coming in very well. “Eleven horses and nine head of cattle were impounded from the County roads in the Poroporo, T-an-'eatua, Matata and Edgecumbe districts. Driving, pounds and sale fees collected were £5 17s. “I have inspected 245 properties in all parts of the County and served notices to clear noxious weeds where required. “The hedge at the junction of Maori Road, Te Teko and Whaka-tane-Rotorua State Highway has been trimmed again. I have advised the owner that this is not sufficient and have now served a notice to remove the hedge for a distance of one chain each way from the corner.

“Two cases of sheep worrying were investigated in Waimana district and in each case the dog doing the worrying was located and destroyed.”