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Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1920, Page 2

The Westland County Council made an important change in its constitution on Tuesday afternoon*whon it resolved to revert to throe riding system of throe members each, in exchange for nine single ridings, of one member each. The course, or rather the necessity for the change was forced hy the financial position. Some of the single ridings were not able to carry on financially, without an increase in the rates. The differential rating would no doubt cause dissatisfaction and unrest, and in the interests of the whole it was deemed more advisable to create larger ridings, and maintain a uniform system of rating. In tile past the ridings have been helping one another. The various districts have had their fluctuations. The spnreelv populated and less cultivated have not flourished like the more eon- j trnl districts where mining and other ! industries maintained population, and kept up rateable values. Slowly the settled districts have been coming more ; and more into their own. The-decline , of mining lias helved to lessen the 1 difference in the oiiulence of the respective districts. Matters have gone on in this way for some time, till ’t | became apparent something had to be ,

done to equalise the conditions in the various districts. In lieu of increasing the rates in' some , ridings in order to “carry on” the councillors looking at the position fairly resolved to level up conditions by enlarging the scope

of the ridings by a system of amalgamation. The change made will be brought into effect at the County election in November next, when the three ridings now agreed upon—Northern, Central and Southern—will elect three representatives each to the Council, which as heretofore will consist of nine elected members. We are now at the end of the quarter, and in little over a fortnight’s time the banking figures for the quarter should be made public (says the current issue of the “N.Z. Trade Review”). This quarter usually shows a heavy influx of funds from the realisation of the season’s produce, as this is the time when the bulk of our produce goes forward. Under present conditions shipment is spread more evenly over the whole year, but under the Imperial purchase of our main products payments are made soon after the goods go into store to await' shipment, and thus the funds c-ome into circulation sooner than under pre-war conditions. So far the season, has proved a fairly good one for production, prices are stable at a high level, payments are prompt, and consequently the supply of funds in general circulation or in the hands of the banks is maintained at a high level. We expect therefore, to find the bank returns showing a plentiful supply of funds in hand for the current quarter. Although the value of our exports is keeping at a level far above our imports, yet the latter are steadily advancing in value. Supplies have been short and high prices contribute largely to the growth in the value of our ini ports. Stocks generaly are low, and importation must be increased in order to build up some stocks for ordinary trading requirements but it is certain that for some time to come our exports are sure to keep well ahead of our imports in total value thus ensuring a satisfactory trade balance and a good supply, of funds for ordinary business requirements.