Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12th, 1917. COUNTY STATISTICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12th, 1917. COUNTY STATISTICS.

Vi,though the County elections are reduced locally to a single contest, it will be none the less interesting general information to give publicity to the latest County Statistics which we have culled from a recently issued Government blue book. The comparisons are made in respect to the West Coast Counties, and they are interesting because ot ..the generally good position in which ttlie Westland County Council figures. The rateable values and rating systems are as follows:—Buller, £406,456, unimproved value; Inangahua, £118,464, unimproved; Grey, £568,365 capital; Westland, £589,929, capital. Buller strikes a rate of sd. in the £, unimproved; Inangahua 3|d. in the£, unimproved ; Grey If d in the £ capital. West land, If in the £, capital. The rates collected from the people are; Buller, £8093; Inangahua, £5875; Grey. £3970; Westland £3393. Revenue other than ratek received totals: Buller, £10976; Tnangahua, £11,406; Grey £11,522, and Westland £7,920. The total revenue received was as follows: —-Buller, £22,995; Inangahua, £16.607, Grey, £20,063: Westland, £13.995. On, the expenditure side there -was spent on public works:— Buller, £8532 : Tnangahua, £4225 ; Grey £9.734; Westland £6,411. In maintenance the following amounts were brought to debit: Buller £6,407 ; Inangahua. £6495, Grey £7036, Westland, £3664. The Charitable Aid expenditure is of interest locally, for it shows what a substantial proportion of the general rates it absorbs. The details are:—Buller, £1038; Inangahua £1150; Grey £1213;

Westland, £2023. The question of management > 9 interesting, and f hereto the following are the figures:— } Buller, £1934; Inangahua, £1870; t Grey £1961’; Westland, £1424. In. connection with management is tho , question of staffing. Tli 0 elerical staffs and payments are i as follows:—Buller, 6 staff, ] costing £960; Inangahua, 4 staff costing £862: Grey, 2 staff costing £505;

Westland, 2 staff costing £429; maintenance staffs are given as follows: Buller, 8 costing £1094; Inangahua, 4 costing £671; Grey, 19 costing £3554; Westland 5 costing £9OO. The total expenditure i s given as follows:—Buller, £22,052; Inangahua, £16,165; Grey, ' £20,596; Westland £14,079. The hank indebtness and interest payments make aII interesting comparative statement, the particulars being:— County. Bank Overdraft. Interest. Buller , £8495 £846 Inangahua 9.300 1,127 Grey 6,2<9 527 Westland 3,502 348 The cash assets as against the bank overdraft, are also of interest, being a s follows :—Buller, £4724; Inangahua £2487; Grey £4904; Westland £3664. It will he seen that Westland alone has cash available tq cover indebtedness to it s bankers. The comparisons generally disclose that the 'Westland County’s affairs are economically managed, and I produce a state of affairs which more than favourably compares witli neigh-. bourihg local bodies which are similarly placed in regard to most cireum- • stances. Probably, it is due to this satisfying condition of affairs that the ratepayers as the whole appear content | vffiffh the present personnel of the County Council, and show no disposition for a change.