Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15th, 1919. A PROGRESSIVE BODY.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15th, 1919. A PROGRESSIVE BODY.

The Chairman’s report submitted to tile meeting of the Westland County Council yesterday is an important document indicating a very progressive spirit in the matter ofv local gcneimment. Mr Duff is duo to retire from the chair next month, and his report clowns a busy year of office with a. wise outlook ns to the future of the Council and, its ability to cany out the important works which will crowd in upon the local body as time rolls by. The first part of the report refers to the late conference work at Wellington, and it will be a victory for the* lower valued Counties if they secure an increase in rate subsidies. The lower the values, the higher must be the taxing rate to produce revenue, but Government has taken always an unfair view in that those Councils taxing them selves at a high rate per pound of value, have received relatively a much lower subsidy (at least half) than those mor 0 fortunate bodies winch can carry on | with a lesser rate per pound. If this j wiomaly is changed it will be good j news to the local bodies generally. Intlie case of Westland, it would mean, that instead of the maximum of £.500 it may now receive, its subsidy would increase to upwards of £2OOO per an- -

! num, .which would be of great assist- * ance in regard to the maintenance of roads and bridges. Regarding future conference work, Mr Duff suggests a district or provincial conference of local bodies prior to the main conference, so that on the West Coast for instance where conditions are so different to other parts, there should he unity of action. in urging the special requirements upon tile ’main conference and the Government also. This is an excellent suggestion, and should lead up to a great improvement if the West Coast Council’s could_Jbe brought together in annual conference. The Chairman makes a suggestion for the Council! to procure roadmaking ma- | chinery. This step is long overdue, and in the light of the fact that there is a difficulty in securing suitable labor, while the roads are extending in length year by year, it seems imperative to move in the matter if economy combined with efficiency is to be maintained. Many of the local bodies throughout the Dominion possess an extensive road making plant, and the suggestion is for the overseer to visit and inspect certain districts to ascertain the most suitable class of machinery for the requirements of this district. The fact .that the Council is now entering on loan expenditure for road and bridge works, calls for a system of construction and future maintenance which will be in the interests of the ratepayers by making the available funds go as far as possible fn providing the road accommodation required for the steady expansion of the district. An excellent suggestion is put forward also with regard to the creation of a Bridge Fund to provide the money for contingent expenditure to tiriso in the future regarding bridges falling into disrepair. Many of the bridges are of such a life now that their renewal will be a necessity in the near future. It would dislocate current finance if the cost had to be charged directly against revenue, and the idea is to have a fund added to year by year as a storehouse whence can be drawn the money to meet thecost of reconstruction,. The special levysuggested for the purpose is very small, —half a farthing per pound of capital value. This would be about one shilling for every £IOO of capital rateable value, and if this insurance fund will, provide for the renewal of bridges in. the future it is well worth inaugurating as soon as possible.