WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1922, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

TREASURER’S REPORT.

FINANCIAL YEAR, 1921-1922

It is not possible as yet to submit a complete import as required by the resolution of the Council at last meet, ing. The new valuation is not available to complete the probable estimate) of income while the hospital levy is| not known at the time of writing' to complete the estimate of expenditure, so that the apportionment of income for the year now commenced cannot be made as yet. It is possible, however, to supply membere with particulars of the year’s finances, which disclose some substantial figures repreenting a general increase in the volume of both receipts and expendi-

Total £12,752 17 1 The general revenue under the above headings for the previous year was £l2 138 5s Bd. Rates show a substam. tial increase, but the drop on goldfields’ revenue was nearly as much as the rates increase. Thirds show a slight decline, but there is n good increase in Halves. The receipts on account of road grants from the Government were £3,846 11s 10d, and aid to prospecting £165 6s, while local loans for road and bridge works were £1,798 7s 2d. The gross revenue for the year wa £18,562 12s Id, as against £14,879 5s 5d the previous year. EXPENDITURE. The following supplies, an analysis of the expenditure under the various subdivisions set out in the Counties Act: (a) General Debts and Liabilities:

Total £4,411 5 4 Last year’s expenditure on the above services was £3,319 6s 10s. The Council has a very useful asset in the fourwheel drive motor-tipping lorry, purchaed during the year out of revenue. The use of the lorry enables road repairs to be overtaken more quickly, and ensures a• better supply of material for the roads. SUMMARY OF GENERAL EXPENDITURE.

The general revenue shown in the foregoing was £12,702 17s Id and the general expenditure in the preceding paragraph was £9,33d fis 7d, leaving a credit of £3-118 10s 6d for district roads expenditure. £2,900 had been allocated for that purpose, and if the estimate had been realised there would have been 1 a surplus. The expenditure on roads, in the Ridings, the Southern Riding only keeping within its allocation. Deducting the £3,418 10s 6d from the £4,357 17s leaves a deficit for the year of £548.

| SEPARATE RIDING ACCOUNTS j FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS I | ENDED MARCH 31sT. ' J 11 The following is the separate Riding |

Nett debit balance—£l4s7 17s Od. Average expenditure per month, available, £242. Average expenditure per month, actual, £3(33.

Totals £241 13 4 £363 3 0 This is as far as the report can be carried at this stage till it is possible to complete the estimates of receipts (when the'new valuation is known) and the expenditure (when the hospital levy is ascertained). The amount available for district roads can then be computed. It will be much smaller this year of necessity, because several of the principal district roads are bo be treated as main roads. All things considered the linancinl position is satisfactory, the Council having been able to meet its monthly accounts with regularity. Under the Local Bodies finance Act of last session the Council has to arrange for the liquidation of its overdraft as at March 31st. Tentative arrangements have been made to do this by a (loan spread over eight years, at 6 per 1 cent. This rate of interest will be a saving of one per cent on the Bank charge, and will represent an economy of about £l5O over the period. The proposed loan would be for £3,200 repayable in sixteen payments of £2OO each half year, the loan to date from August Ist. A rate of about a farthing in the £ should provide necessary security.

As far as can be gleaned there is not much suggestion of a reduction in the hospital levy. This is to be regretted as the figures show what a drain these heavy charges are; and it- is not clear yet what reduction if any c a ’n be made in the rate levy. The position will he govedned also by the new valuation which is so long overdue. It is expected there will he an increase in the total sum. which would permit of a decrease per rateable pound, but till :he final figures are available the amount can only be a matter of surmise. It is expected that a saving will result in road maintenance from the use of the motor lorry. Better value igiven for the expenditure now going on, but a good deal of work is in sight. The lorry enables the work to bo overtaken more rapidly and the work done should stand longer. It seems beyond question that the lorry has enabled the Council to perform work of an urgent character, which with the available horses and drays in the list’ vt, would have been more costly from every noun of view, and the work could not have been performed so quickly thus giving the public the advantage of the repaired roads so much sooner. The lorry is running satisfactorily and the machine does excellent work. The Council is very fortunate in having so capable a driver of the lorry at its disposal, Mr Robinson’s work being most satisfactory indeed from every point of view.

ture. i RECEIPTS. j General & Mining Rates 1 (a r e eord) 6,186 4 2i and interest on i 544 14 21 Goldsfields revenue 1,965 3 5; Fees, fines and penalties 28 14 a; Publicans’ licenses 550 11 0‘ Rents and refunds 95 13 0 Workers Compensation i Act ••••••■• 32 10 Oi Motor, Slaughter, Lif ' ; censes Act < 1 ..... * • • • • 74 10 1> Thirds, Land Fund 301 8 6 Halves. Royalties FoBfi 3,800 9 6 ’ Deposit* .. 68 0 0 Miscellaneous 1 Refund* 117 10 ffi Ratepayers’ contrljfcutioris 07 10 0 ( Clerical assistance 181 13 4 Royal Visit Refund 139 3 2 Motor Lorry running fees • 174 7 6j

£ ». d. Repayment on Loans... 107 0 0 Interest on Loans 107 10 6 Interest on Bank Overdraft 210 10 0 Total £425 0 6 Tlie expenditure the previous year under the above headings was £411 2s 3d. (I>) Contributions under various Acts: £ «. d. Charitable Aid Act 2,833 9 3 Alcoholic Liquors Act 15 5 4 Workers Compensation Act 50 14 6 Subsidy to Literary In«titutes 20 0 0 Rating Act. • 66 10 6 Miscellaneous Acts 133 1 2 Contractors’ Deposit a/c 52 6 0

Total £3,171 5 9 In the previous year £4,129 10» 3d was spent under the above headings. (e) Counties Act Administration: £ 8. d. Chairman and members... 257 5 0 Office salaries 820 13 4 Office charges • 183 2 11 Printing, advertising and stationery 47 13 9 Traphire 19 0 0

Total £1,327 15 0 The previous year expenditure for the above was £1,174 12s 7d. (d) Main Roads: Kngineering charges 48 11 6 Traphire 30 15 0 Printing, advertising and stationery 67 8 2 Railway bridges .... 102 13 8 Telephone guarantee 4 0 0 Motor I,orry (purchase, repairs and supplies 1,425 .6 2 Maintenance and salaries of road staff 1,626 2 6 Kxcess on grants expenditure 1,106 8 4

£ 8, d. (a) General debts ... 425 0 6 (b) Counties Act .... 3171 5 9 (c) Contributions under Acts 1327 15 0 (d) Main roads 4,411 5 4 Total £9,334 6 7

OQOl“ to 1 O 1 r i * * ■ ■ — Rifling. Northern Central .. Southern JU Nation. Expenditure. .... £550 737 4 5 1047 2383 5 2 ... 1303 1237 7 5 Cr Bal £6512 7 1 Dr Bal. £187 4 5 1336 5 4 Un o o CJ 3 •0 J C-h P CD rtt*> Totals . .... £2900 £4357 7 5 £65 12 7 £1523 9 7 s» g ® p ►1 1

Average - Ridingavailable. Actual. (Northern .. .... £45 16 8 £61 8 6 Central 1 87 5 0 198 12 1 Southern .... .... 108 11 8 103 2 3