OTAKI FINANCES

Hokitika Guardian, 27 October 1927, Page 4

OTAKI FINANCES

COUNCIL .MAY RESIGN. OTAKI, Oct. 21. So many are the financial difficulties confronting the Otaki Borough Council that it is suggested that the council should resign, and that the affairs of the town should he placed in the hands of a receiver. The question was discussed at some length at a recent meeting of the Borough Council, when it was pointed out by the Mayor that the borough had been placed in a very awkward position. Recently schemes were entered upon for the installation of water and sewerage. Water was installed, hut work upon the sewerage system stopped after several thousands pounds hail been spent upon it. The Department of Health is now seeking to force the authorities of the borough to complete this work. Unfortunately, however. the liorough’s finances have been seriously depleted by the fact that two commissions have excluded from the rating area large areas of lands. Great difficulty is also being experienced in the collection oP substantial amounts of rates on native lands. As a result of this unfortunate combi nation of circumstances, the Borough Council communicated with the Minister of Public. pointing out, that, owing to the difficulty m collecting Native rates, it was altogether impossible for the borough either to finance the construction ol a. permanent highway or to maintain the present- road in good repair. lor this to be done it would be necessary for some assistance to be given by the Department. In reply to this letter the Minister stated that the request- for financial assistance from the Government would receive very careful consideration. At i> recent meeting -M the Boroiig • Council the Mayor pointed out the. 1 the borough area had been so dipped in the past that there was now little left. If affairs continued in Hi' same way as they had -been going i tbo past. he. for one. would he only too pleased to resign, with his fellowcouncillors, and to hand over aflairs to the Government. He would suggest Hint- Mr \V. 11. Field. ALP., should he asked to visit Otaki in order to discuss borough matters, and also the question of Native rates. C 'moil! t O’Ront’ ■ while agreeing with the Mayor in hi- remarks, thought that it would be too much to ask of Mr Field. He would move, instead, that the 'borough solicitor should he asked to write In the De-partn'e-t of Internal Affairs, pointing out that when the borough was tunned ample opportunitv be.t been given for the making of d indicias by landowners. Moneys had since been borrowed on tbo basis of t'>" valuation of tbo total area of the town. From time to time, however, various pieces of land had been severed from the borough, and unless these lauds weie returned it would be necessary to ap-

point a receiver. “It appears to me,” said C oundllor O’Rourke, "that underhand work going on. ami that lands left in the borough will have to carry all the burden of Native rates. This is most inequitable, and it no remedy i v forthcoming the council will have i<> resign. Under the circumstances no further progress can be made. 'I hero is no doubt that the ratepayers have been very badly treated.’ The motion was .‘Winded by Councillor Ryder and supp lied by Councillor Morse. People bad jeered about the position of the borough, remarked the latter councillor and had asked various questions, b-t there was no doubt that the Government ha 1 placed the borough in a most unloatu.uato position. “T agree with Councillor O’Rourke’s motion,” remarked the Mayor. “H the Government do not like it: they can put in a receiver, and carry on themselves.” The motion was unanimously adopt-