WAIPAWA COUNTY FINANCES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 75, 15 April 1937, Page 3

WAIPAWA COUNTY FINANCES

Our Own Oorrespondent.

Sound Position Revealed

From

WAIPAWA, Last Night. The following report was presented to the Waipawa County Council -by the county lerk, Mr F. Holt, at Monday's meeting of the council : — "I have to report that we commenced the last financial year with a credit balance of £5300 0/5 and finished the year on March 31, 1937, with a credit balance of £5906 2/3. This amount should have heen increased by the sum of £1251 14/3, a n amount due from the Government, and which did not come to hand nntil the day after we closed our books. When you consider the increased expenditure of the period uhder review, I think you will agree that the result is most satisfactory and that the council's finances are in a sound condition. "During the year, salaries were restored to the 1931 level, and the outside stafP's wages were increased to bring tbem up to the standard set by the differert awards which came in force as a result of recent legislation. The hospital levy was very considerably increased. A new car was purchased for the cngmeer. and an instalment paid on & new caterpillar grader. Then, in common wjth local bodies in this district, extra expense was incurred as a result of the "disastrous flood in February, 1936. Rats Collection. 'The collection of r&tes this yOar was very satisfactory and the ratepayers are ! to he congratulated on the prompt manner in which they met .their obligiations. The sum of £11,560 was collected of the current year's rates out of a total of £11,895. This represents • 97 per cent. collected which is a record for this oouneil. In addition £481 of arrears of rates were collected and £206 of sanitation rates. During the year telepbone subscriptions amounting to £921 were collected. Riding Colleotlons. '"The following table shows the amountb and percentage of rates, paid during Ihe year ended March 31, 1937, in the v« nous ridings of the county : —

'The lower percentage in Takapau riding is accounted for by the nonpayment of rates by certain ratepayers of the thre •; soldier settlements in this ridina."

Riding Due . Paid P,C. £ £ Waipava 3,539 3,459 97$ Ongaonga 3,520 3,391 96$ Clinton 2,435 . 2,423 : 99$ Takapau 2,401 2,287 95$ Totals 11,895 11,560 97