WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2751, 16 July 1885, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILLS. A special meeting of the Westland County Council was held in the Chambers, Hokitika, on Wednesday afternoon ; present —The County Chairman (J. Grimmond, Esq.), Messrs M‘Whirter, Dungan, M'Goldriok, Seddon, Daly, Spence, and Jack. The object of the meeting was to consider how the new Government hills affected the County financially, supposing they became law in their present form. A statement had been prepared by Mr H. R. Rae, Clerk to the Council, showing, approximately, the Revenue under the old regime, and under the Local Government proposals, as follows : 1884-85 ’BS-86 Crown Lands Rates (reduced one-half) ... 6990 3495 General Rates ... ... 424 424 Subsidy on General Rates (£2 for £1) 0 846 Christchurch Road Tolls (to be abolished) ... 376 0 Dog Tax ... ... ... 61 61 Licenses, Publicans ... 940 940 Vehicle Licenses and Hawkers’ do. ... ... 222 0 Goldfields Revenue (reduced one-half) and Business Licenses (reduced two-thirds) ... 2007 900 Gold Duty (abolished) ... 4175 0 Special Vote for Goldfields Counties ... ... 0 2000 Totals .... £15,195 £8660 Mr Seddon spoke at some length on the subject. After a conversational discussion, the following resolution was carried : “That in the opinion of this Council, the Government proposals, with reference to local government are very unsatisfactory, and this Council recommend the Government to agree to the suggestions of the West Coast representatives, as any reduction of revenue must injuriously affect the development of this part of the colony.