WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1929, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, APRIL 9th., 1929. TREASURER’S REPORT. Treasurer’s report on receipts and expenditure for 1928-29, and apportionment of revenue to separate ridings for 1929-1930. Sir and Gentlemen,—l have the honor to report in accordance with the resolution of the Council on the finances of the financial year, and to submit the following for your guidance in connection with the apportionment of revenue for the current financial year, in terms of the provisions of the Counties’ Act: The Financial year which closed on March 31st. last gave the following general revenue, exclusive of special grants:— £ g. d. General and mining rates, less rebate 4751 14 5 Harbor Board Rates 644 14 10 Subsidy and interest on rates 646 17 9 Goldfields Revenue 4563 15 10 Fees, fines and penalties .. 19 16 9 Publicans’ Licenses 460 14 0 Rents and refunds 143 14 1 Workers Compensation Act 83 10 0 Auctioneers and other Licenses ... 98 1 4 Thirds, Land Fund 237 10 8 Halves, Royalties Fund ... 297 12 9 State Forests, sth & 10th 639 17 10 Contractors’ Deposits ... 48 0 0 Ratepayers’ Contributions 36 5 0 Haulage of Timber 252 8 5 Clerical Assistance 98 6 6 Secondary Highways, subsidy 138/ 0 0 Timber Levy Transport ... 503 16 11 Pipes and Material 328 19 0 Railway Bridges, Highways 4 9 Motor Running Fees ... 535 12 6 £15,813 8 6 Tlie general revenue under the above headings for the previous year was £13189 17s Od. The receipts on account of road grants'etc. from, the Government were £3370 0s Od. The gross revenue for the year was £19,183 8s 6d as against £16232 14s Od 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: ; £ s. d. Repayment on Loans ... 607 0 0 Interest on Loans ... ... 146 3 6 Interest on Bank Overdraft 60 7 6 £Bl3 11 2 The expenditure the previous year under the above headings was £lOlO 18s lid. (b) Contributions under various Acts. £ s. d. Charitable Aid Act 1549 6 9 Harbour Board Rates collected ... 969 5 6 Alcoholic Liquor Act . ... 12 5 3 Workers Compensation Act 60 5 9 Rating Act ... ... ... 46 5 0 Miscellaneous Acts 153 19 11 Cemetery Maintenance ... 6 5 0 Contractors’ Deposit Account . ... 48 0 0 £2,845 13 2 In the previous year £2422 3s lid was spent under the above headings, (c) Counties’ Act Administration £ s. d. Chairman and Members ... 404 5 0 Office Salaries ... 842 15 0 Office Charges ..; ... ... 138 TB 10 Printing, advertising and Stationery 37 5 2 £1423 2 0 The previous year expenditure for the above was £1326 18s 9d. (d) Main Roads. £ s. d. Traphire ... 36 8 0 Printing, Advertising and Stationery ... .... 81 19 1 Railway Bridges ... ».* 102 13 8 Telephone Guarantee .... .4 0 0 Motor Lorries’ Account ... 1202 16 4 Road Maintenance and Salaries, Staff .... ... 1662 10 4 Alain Highways Board ... 1530 0 0 Secondary Highways ... 1690 9 9 Excess on Grants etc., Expenditure ... 1521 15 7 £7832 12 9 Last year’s expenditure on the above service was £6561 14s sd. Summary of General Expenditure: £ s. d. (a) General Debts 813 11 2 (b) Contribution under Acts 2845 13 2 (c) Counties’ Act 1423 2 0 (cl) Main Roads 7832 12 9 £12,934 19 1 The general revenue shown above was £15,813 8s 6d, and the general expenditure in the preceding paragraph £12,934 19s Id, giving a credit of £2,878 9s sd. SEPARATE RIDING ACCOUNTS FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31st. 1929. The following is the Separate Riding Accounts for the past financial gear

Net credit balance, £457 2s 9d. Average expenditure per month available, £307 6s Bd. Average expenditure per month, actual, £269 4s 9d.

ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. It will be seen from the foregoing summary that the net result for the year was: £ s. d. Revenue 15,815 8 6 Expenditure 12,934 19 1 Credit Balance 2,878 9 5 Surplus from Separate Accounts 457 2 9 Total surplus ... £3,335 12 2

The expenditure on roads has been substantial as the following discloses: £ Motor Lorries’ Account 1202 Road Maintenance and Staff ... 1662 Main' Highways 1530 Railway Bridges 103 Excess on grants expended . ... 1521 Secondary Highways 1690 District County Roads 3230 £10,938 There was, therefore, over 72 per cent of the expenditure directly on roads and bridges, quite a worthy average and producing good results.

GENERAL REMARKS In congratulating members last year on the annual financial results, the hope was expressed that pursuing the same policy the year now passed through would "give results no less satisfactory.” It is pleasing to state that the results are even better, as revealed by the figures above. Councillors will see that the surplus for the year is £3335, a net gain in credit of £1397 on the previous year’s figures. This pleasing position is further emphasised by the fact that the bank account closed on March 31st. with a credit (after allowing for unpresented cheques) of £377. Another aspect of this credit is that interest on overdraft fell from £lB9 the previous year which was low (due to Cr Murdoch’s assistance) to £6O for this year. As anticipated in the previous statement, the relief from the subsidy for secondary highways has been considerable- It has not only eased the funds, but has resulted in greatly improved roads. If the Council’s application for additional roads as secondary highways is favourably entertained, it should be possible tor the Council after the June period, to relieve the sawmillers of the Central Riding of the special charge for haulage of timber over certain district roads. The revenue from that source during the past year was £252. It will be of interest to mention here that the Council’s road plant earned the following sums for hire on grants and highways work during the year: No. 1 Lorry, £312 10s Od; No. 2 Lorry £342; Road roller £l7O 15s Old ; tractor-graded, £144 ; sale of crushed metal £44—Total £1,013 10s Old. Before proceeding to suggest the scheme for allocation of funds available for district roads this year, I venture to place before Councillors the following for their consideration:, PUBLIO DEBT REDUCTION. In view of the surplus above referred to it is suggested for the consideration of the Council that £1042 be applied towards the reduction of the public debt in the following way: (a) Antecedent Liability Loan of £3200 at 6 per cent, matures in August of next year. The fourteenth payment of £2OO will be payable on Ist. August next, and it is suggested the 15th. and 16th. payments each of £2OO, due February and August, 1930—total £4OO, be paid off this year. This will effect a saving of £l.B in interest on the balance of the term of the loan. (b) La Fontaine Creek Clearing Loan, £405 at 51 per cent; Peterson’s Road Extension Loan, £750 at 51 per cent.; Petersen’s Road Further Extension Loan of £450 at 5i per cent. These loans which aggregated originally £1605, mature in 1935. The next or ninth payment falls due on October Ist. By then £963 will have been paid off the principal leaving a balance of £642 It is suggested that subject to the arrears of special rates being paid in full including the rate to be struck for this year, that the balance of the loan be paid off next October, and there lie no liability thoraftcr for the

subsequent special rates. This adjustment will save £ll7 19s (id in interest on the loans. The settlers liable for the rates in this instance arc also liable for rates to the Inter-Wanganui River Board for the payment to cover the cost of the river protection, while at the same time all the properties concerned in the County’s special rates have been seriously menaced by the river erosion and flooding. The relict suggested should therefore Ik* of some benefit to the settlers concerned. The total saving by the reduction of the public debt suggested will be £135 IDs 6d, whic h is an amount worth considering. The elasticity of the accounts to permit of such a favourable adjustment is also a matter for gratification, and should lie very satisfactory to the rtepayers of the County. ALLOCATION FOR SEPARATE RIDINGS. The estimated revenue for this year is £13,500, leaving available £2.000 for district roads. If the debt reduction proposal is agreed to there will be available from last year’s surplus or £2878 less debt reduction £1042, a net amount of £1836, which with the £2OOO mentioned in the foregoing, provides £3836 for the roads, as against £3,618 last year, and £2047 the previous venr. This sum of £3836 allocated on rateable values, plus the surplus of £457 from the Separate Ridings, gives the following division of funds for the Ridings: .2 S I JS .£ t S' o 1 ■, 3 „■ M I pi o < s~ Northern . ... £230 £539 £769 Central 52 1465 1517 Southern . ... 175 1832 2007 £427 £3836 £4293 This total of £4293, gives a monthly average expenditure of £357 for the district roads, as against £3688, or £307 monthly last year. On these figures it will not be necessary to increase the general rate, which it is suggested should remain as before. Another factor in avoiding the necessity to increase the rates, is the amount now being received for Royalties on timber. The Council has been making representations over many years regarding this matter, and some effect is being realised, thanks particularly to Cr Murdoch’s efforts and advice regarding the legal aspect. For instance, under the provisions of the Forests Amendment Act, 1926, the following shows how the payments on account of royalties has advanced: 19261-27 £728 11 3 1927- 2040 18 6 1928- 3529 7 2 The increase which these figures reveal should justify further action on the part of the Council in probing the legal position as to the. amount equitably due over past periods. CONCLUSION. In concluding this Statement the Council is to he congratulated on the greatly improved financial position. It will be pleasing to the members at the end of their term, to. find the Bank overdraft liquidated and the account in credit and the roads and bridges and tracks generally in greatly improved order. The ratepayers have occasion to be pleased also with the improved roads, and the fact that the iesults are being achieved without increasing the rates. This County, although such a large area, is the lowest rated on the Coast. According to the Government returns the rates in Westland County are £7.37 per £IOOO of capital value, while the northern Counties are all above £lO and approximating £l2 per £IOOO. It is felt that the judicious use of the machinery on the roads has been a great help to the Council, in both the improved and cheaper maintenance of the roads. The benefit from this will he found as time goes on, as by systematic grading, upkeep will be easier and more economical over a period. As far as can he gathered the staff can handle the plant with good effect, and the care taken with it is to he commended, indicating the interest of the employees in their wqfk. The Overseer has co-operated with the office in the carrying out of the year’s work, and Mr Millner has not spared himself in his attention to the Council’s interests. Working early and late over a long stretch of roadway, he has always kept the interests of the Council in view, and the condition of the roads show that the staff has been controlled to good effect, and matters have run most smoothily all through the year. Under similar conditions this period, the Council should have another good year. The general organisation is now such that,the best results can be relied on in regard to the general management and the prospect for the immediate future is therefore a very pleasing one. D. J. EVANS, County Treasurer. Hokitika, April Bth. 1928.

Riding Allocation Expenditure Balance £ £ s. d £ s. d. Northern Central ... Southern ... 611 ... ... 1404 ... ... 1673 ... 380 6 6 1352 12 10 ... 1497 1< 11 230 13 6 51 7 2 175 2 1 3688 3230 17 3 457 2 9

RIDING MONTHLY AVERAGES Riding Available Actual £ s. d £ s. d. Northern .. . 60 18 4 31 13 10 Central .. . 117 0 0 112 14 0 Southern .. . 139 8 4 124 16 6 £307 6 8 £269 4 0