The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 1930. LOCAL BODY RATING.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 1930. LOCAL BODY RATING.

Duking tiie past couple of days the ratepayers in both town and country iiave been called on to pay die annual rates to the municipal and local governing bodies. There has not been Heard any marked degree for complaint, for comparatively, the local bodies concerned I.audio their finance circumspectly, and it can hardly be said there is any special degree of extravagance. in the ease of the Hokitika Dorough, there are some 080 ratepayers, who according to the latest returns available pay £3976 in rates Just how the town is placed relatively in the matter of rating, let us compare with our northern neighbours in Grey mouth. There are 1039 ratepayers, and their rates total £15,252. On a capital value hits is the rating is equal to 11.20 per £IOOO of value in Hokitika, and 19.26 in Ureymoutli, so that it will he seen the local ratepayers are in the more economically managed centre. Hatepayers sometimes ask where the money goes, or why it is required at all. 'The local body is responsible for the streets and footpaths, drainage, sanitation, water supply, fire prevention quota, street lighting, cemetery maintenance, abattoirs, parks, baths, etc., and under these headings £4,-100 was absorbed thus accounting for more than the rate levied. This takes no account of hospital contributions. Hut here again, if a comparison is studied, Hokitika is not harshly treated. The expenditure was £B2O here, compared with £BC63 in the neighbouring town of GreymoiiLh—rather a startling coiipjarisou on the face of it. but of course 'the northern institution is imic|. larger. Still, relatively, the outgoings are high, a fact confirmed also by the Public Health report presented to Parliament this session, , • , . . ...... !

wherein the hospital administration in the northern town is criticised. Perhaps folk here are inclined to coinplay n about sanitation fees. The rate is in (JreynimUl. it. is ‘2os, while at Uargavillc it is -IDs ami the lUuii' Ids comparative hollies greatly in favour of this town. On the whole therefore, it. would appear that the local municipality is managed as economically as the next place, and that speak in" hroadjy .'the ratepayers are obtaining very lair value for their eon! rihut ions in rates. Turning to the County of Westland, we iiml Uh'j’o arc some *2l*oo ratepayers, eon-

irib-itingi C 0,175 .'in rates. If we continue the comparison, we (ind the Grey County lias 1415 ratepayers, who I'ouiul £7583 in rates. The rate levy on £IOOO of capital value was 7.30 in Westland, and 1.1.58 per cent in Grey ( minty. Out of revenue and grants 1,027(50) Westland (do unity spent £0.751 on reading, so that it will he seen far more than the rates collected went rank directly on to the roads; and the general state of the roads in Westland County suggest that the expenditure has been well carried out—all the roads—even at this winter season of the year-—being in very passable order indeed. Hospital expenditure cost the County C 1,719, and in view of the figures given in relation to the boroughs, it is not surprising the Grey (ounty had to linil £l,OOl as its contribution to the cast- of the Grey hospital administration. In relation to loan charges the local body’s experience is also satisfactory, and of late it lias reduced substantially its indebtedness and consequent liabilities. The steady improvements to hue reading has included in recent times, much permanent work in the way oi concrete culverts. This policy will prove more advantageous to the ratepayers ns time goes by, for there will not 'be the contingent responsibility ahead for renewals. bridges now being erected lire also of more lasting material, . and will possess a longer life. Despite the capita! cost of road machinery, the local body has been able to practically pay off its liabilities, and one reason for the improved roadin.g, is the quicker methods of 1.0-dav, which enables more work to be overtaken in a given time, and the time saved is of value to the works. /Certain implements now in use also possess special values. Regular grading once adopted assists greatly in the economy of main lonairy. Hoad rolling is another factor, for |lie better the consolidation of the material the longer the road wears satisfactorily. It would appear that a gravel road of reasonable width., well metalled and rolled will stand up to heavy traffic at a much more reaso'uablc cost, than expensive roads put down in more costly material. This is of importance to the ratepayers, for it saves the cost of borrowing to build the dear roads, and on a more economical basis, ratepayers are served with roatling equal to requirements. Altogether the local policy must be well within moderate means and is affording very satisfactory results.