The Guardian And Evening Star, with winch is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1927. COUNTY FINANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with winch is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1927. COUNTY FINANCE

The Treasurer’s statement prepared for the meeting of the County Council to-day is published in extenso in this issue, and dealing with the financial year which has just closed, contains much interesting matters for the ratepayers and the public alike. The report so promptly made public, supplies information which in the ordinary course would not ho available till the audited accounts were available some months later. In the form now supplied those interested may glean a general knowledge of the financial position and operations of the Council which are not as clearly revealed in the audited accounts, the various undertakings not being summarised in so handy a form. The report is interesting as revealing an increase in both income and expenditure, but though this is so, it is unfortunate that the year’s transactions in the net result disclose a deficit of £487. There is. however, explanation of the deficiency, and that in turn draws attention to the very substantial expenditure now falling on the Council for the upkeep of the roads and bridges of the district-. From a special summary prepared it will be seen that of a gross income of £14,369, £11.95-5 were spent directly and indirectly on the roads. The Treasurer in commenting on the general position remarks that the size

of the County should always bo kept, in mind, a lien considering the expenditure. hi that connection, not only is Westland County tlit* largest County area in th-- Dominion, hut it. has over

SCO inil- s cl roads ami tracks to care for. What appears to he a particular cause lor the expenditure on the County roads is the heavy trallie which is an itier a-ing quantity. Hoads which Mtflited tor three or four ton trallie in farmer times, now have to carry double that weight, and it is natural with the rainfall here, that the extra loan ing lias a trying effect, and neces 4 .- latex much additional expenditure. The cost of upkeep is thus a speei il burden. The Council has endonvouro I to cam- with the difficulty by adding In its plant, hut it costs money 1.. operate mechanical plants, and so 111 drain in meet- the wear and tear has hi-conn- nhnormal. Kneed with local economic eoinlit ions arising from the decline in vain.- of dairy produce and tin- slump in. the limber trade, the Treasurer very considerately does not suggest an increase ill the rating. It is proposed either to saddle tho-di-rectly responsible for the rood damage through excessive loading with He 1 cost, or to limit Hie loading (and if ncccssarv prohibit it over the win. •• period). To restrict ling unduly or to prevent heavy traffic entirely, would lie a hardship blocking industry. It seems obvious, seeing that the ratepayers already have dune their part, that, the financial responsibility should fall on the special users of tho road. The Council has a problem of some delicacy in this matter, for members will be reluctant, knowing tin* conditions of the timher trade, to saddle* the millers with addiliona costs, hutin tile plight of the Council there seems no alternative. Apart from this very special feature of the local body finance, the (oiinril is in a fair way of continuing its good work of tho past. Despite the tax on its resources, it is a fact that the general standard of maintenance in Westland County is very satisfactory. If the cost is high, the result is at least good. There is n strong appeal for economy for the present- year to recover (he loss which has just been revealed, and no doubt the report of the Treasurer to-day will have every consideration at the hands of the Council, which should ensure the necessary financial recovery during the year now entered upon.