WAITEMATA COUNTRY COUNCIL.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 July 1918, Page 3

WAITEMATA COUNTRY COUNCIL.

[From '-Tliti l--jfitri G----,/;fv:,U;/\J A' MKicT;..-;^ -.v,' ;-v,.:. Wa,:toui;. vi (. ou'(H: il -va-. lield on Frin?iy i::i>;.t- Present —Mo-srs If. Airkonheafi (('hairnian). Day, J. W. Harrison. M, VV ■ Oliphant, F. 'l'!;;-;^ : , H,:.rl;, F. Dye, J. Brok-ch . -i.nd Crimea. MAIRETAHI DRAINAGE AREA The plan of drainage area at Mairetahi submitted by Engineer was, on the motion "of Or OKphanfc, seconded by Cr Harrison, adopted, Cr Laing alone dissenting. The latter asked that his objection be recorded. MR WRIGHT'S REPORT ON RIDING BALANCES The Financce Committee dealt ai, length with Mr Wright's r«3» port, on the vKiing balances, which is as follows ; — The completion of the accounts for in<i year and the prod action of the riding balances as on March 31st, has brought to light a. very c-eriuus discrepency vi tlie bakiiices of several riding?:-. Councillors are, of coi-irMi.i. aware of the "tress which 1 iiavc laid on the question of the dun! systj.HTis. of keeping riding nccouiiis, only one of which s;ave the true Sega] balance, and of the very probable daj^er that rvmny luenibci-s were entirely in ,tho dark as to their true iinancial position. The comparison ol r/iiv1' results oijtrriiied as on March 31, and those for Ihe preceding four years, are set out in schedule attached. 1 have endeavoured to set them out in as simple a form as possible, so that councillors may trace from year to year the discrepancy which exists, but an examination seems''only to show how unsatisfactory a snide the County system has been since the Audit Departments' requirements came into vogue. The differences in amount are largely accounted, for by Ihe .way in whioh interest saved on loan money lodged to general account, was debited to ricHnj? account for which it was temporarily borrowed, also from the entirely different principle allocation of receipts and expenditure employed, ftiid'by credit balances on Hospital and Charitable Aid rato,' and Interest rate collections. I do toe dank that the results will come altogether as a surprise to some members of the Council, .as in May 1915, I find ihe .i'oLlowuip;. VAinuto rv'Curde:! :■ — '"llie Uoni.H;-; .solioi.oi.- ioiwarded :.'i\ i.-rr.nlcw or.. m:.I arnoi'iJn:).i; ; ,t o" v)-.<-: (."•■■...>:■! ;:\^~ jxi'A '■ F.f'ft'cfciut;; fl(ja:i(;iai Grr-i!^:-;i\vM; c; !On ihu rii:.'iio'! o(' i;!'.;^ v;u' u n!i.'^ j(Cr Dye), -■crco'.-.rioft by i.h, McCarthy, V)t Treusurcr wu ■■: instructed to r>;? ip f - b.- t ];-aice sheet on the i^ya.uLo iin-:-s as indicated by Audit Inspector." It would appear that in spite of the notification and legal opinion therein received, Crs. Wave gone on working on the old | system of balances. The Clerk , assures that the Council was | from time to time informed ; afresh of the balance differences, but th<-. ono thing necessary to do lv- realise the.whole position, arid I which wa? evidently not done, was to read the printed balance sheet and compare results, a ! -■:':.vy cursory examination would j have shown, the widely differing • .results and eiiabJed steps to be J taken to have- proper figures i tabled at each meeun.g. It. is not j that any figures or accounts ; have been manipulated, hut that ; councillors seeai to have fdiled tc; | grasp the requii-ements.oi: ihe law i aid the proper system of ac j counting1 and allocations r;ocea- : sary. under the sanv:;. The | altered position in several riding;^, ho we ver, makes i t a bsol v to! y es?entla! for of thorn ie | immediately recouGider their e.x~ I pendilure for the present, or by ) arrangy.-nent to utilise a portiol. !of the unused overd;-afi Uiiiit;oi the' oihtiis more for tun ate by ! placed. The positions of th<f | hidings, after payments made i; ! April and those now due foi J payment chargeable to Ridin«: i acoouj.^ts, are made oufc arid se- ; out in. a second schedule attached !A cfrefu' co;amiii&\,ion of t'K • j -leadi-'i^ and footnotes wii ■ suMciei'iliy ux\Aba-~i ii, I rhiak i L-: is drawri -ip in :-.vch ■:■. fov;n ;u i wn!, in t?i;3 s>m|ji.-.-.. -v, iriajicj?' • i po:~^i!)ie, shovi7 'lot only iiow , [.<. i | Riding overdraft starid^ hui t!"!( i; a )?.iour;.(; of expCM'^Urur,; nx •:.•.(;tn ! pa-rcui 'viih tote.'i ■■-:•:<■ pec rod ;'C >•■ '': i i. ■.■":: "'.:: "■" ;•• . ■ '.■■•.'. '■■ .■:. : .•'• '-' ':.■•■■'-■ ■■■'...'' r,. ' ■ >(.•■",!• ,. ■ ■ ■ ■

be shaped accordingly c-v.: j coni/roiled is. j.-lio :>bjf^y.'i-V.-r -\vl;-.kv ! 1.1 havt ties if.;;nod the system r.:C> ' ; k"t^.-ujnK: J.tiiiJ!!ii exv)epditui-.3. ar,d i I tl-o T.rssiKiWror/liV.-.n r.C ■■". f^.- H ! ! ca-iHiii; a^aii; ■.•.cc.-vo' 'if fu-i[ and i ; pi-.'pei' use. cm'iho ;r:;:c!-;r,.\t!on. i.o j i ■);: obi.aiueo ji'sjjn i-, is m «•:.,•:. ; I .i.i\-oL' ail it i.-; ')';>!; ;'):>-■ kin;:;, * ■ , pane! it, tire on 1 Kysnen;,i:"ic be, - [•■ ! i i'r-Oi.n iiiformati'ori oi;uuaed from ; l.deijnlt.H awe uh-!-.;red vosml :>, ; j OXJTSTA'NDVyG PAYAISNTJi | Some 160 separate vop.cb^v:- | have been made out for pay-1 merits due'for settlement at liiirJ meeting. Every liability which it has been possible to send forward properly certified has been done, and this, in itself, I understand, constitutes a record for the Council for some years. There are one or two items still ■ outstanding, ' s'°rne of which 1 brought forward at last meeting ; as requiring investigation before settlement. Toi-pey Bros, claim < iof £143 12s I have gone carefully : j into and made a tentative offer !of £87 10s without prejudice in i j settlement. This offer going into • jmy figures Torpey Bros, are ' I willivuv Lo settle for, and I recoui-j ■ I ''ieiKi r,h:it in bo paid. The other | ■ j "ire.?, tan ding accounts I hope to i i have completed ready for next! ! I meeting. • ! ■ i i I FLOOD, DAM'AGrI A:7D CRANT ' i ■ ...... 1 . ; .A-L.!i..'-'.> >: 1 cs'j'.-j. ■ • j A few of i:'io ijoo^l -Jartjagfi ! J grants are -.n.^ctr-ied. butj i NVif.ii Luc; ■VAv'eptif-;.! oi: the Swair ! son Wai r,a Scare, aii oth^r grant moneys are in or applied for. Makarau bridge dybit-to Rodney i I O^i'i'riiy has been made up at! j £S? 9s arid will come forward!----i biter us a refund to Kaukapakapa j ! Hiding account. Aii such, re-j I funds ar;d subsidies are now] j being applied for immediately j ; after each meeting according to i I instructions' by Mie assistant1! I engineer. j i I I R.n;;i>sG HaLA~NCI^- I j The following -na'uulated coir;- ; I poraiu>nx ot the Hiding' balances I I show! !ig-fche diJiV renews br!t;\vaeji ! I the 'figure-: arrived at by the j I Audit Department and the I I Council: — | I Comparison of Ruling Balance*, showing ' j difference between A'J'Jif- and j Council figure.-;:— ! J K-.mw. j ! £ i' I 1 .(. ! I >'.?ii ■:!15 '!;;;;; }':.]: \.■■],', \ \ Ay.d. 7hiU<r :.-;<;,!,. :]i".j ; - :■}:;,(,-. -v, j .|Cac;. :,;-?.;:■ :;r;7.i- ::,fo,ir >-':;;•■■ ■.'.■:■),^ "j I ! '.vi •; ny uv! ■.. • I '• ''"'■■-' .^'.-'ir 'i.'.ij--.;:- i'.-;f,;.M- ]:\l:;^ ?.'><VM):\ I i\.\n:. -i-iC'L: l.e-:iv .-;;-U;- CToo;: vis.:.'| ' Om.: S'ioi'tv -ji'l:;.-!- ,Mi;;r., ;*i_ ov [j;.^ j A:::.. .'.Wir 'I ;::,.■)■ 7;.; : - -'.r;:-:-i ]"■';•.-• ' i 'Jsci. Bv/\--.i--- ,'(.. )■:•: ■'.A'l-x: '^.;v '■^••. ■ ; Pukeatua. j Aud. 190dr 121dr 17cr 114dr 249!r j Cncl. 1207dr 1914dr 1514dr 410dr 578dr } : Waipareira. And. 416<1r 1042dr Sl9dr 928dr 2076dr . j Cncl. 1073dr 867cr 107cr 135dr 1918dr Wainni. Aud. 2Ssdr 257 cv 677cr 7220r 106 up Cncl. 335dr 201dr 21cr SOor lOSdr 1 Takapurs. • And. GOScr 184cr 501cr 655cr Cncl. 1239cr 615cr 75(klr 239dr 178dr! • • i > j Titirangi. i ; And. 3;wdr 150.!r 2i3;]r 724-lr 352dr | ;. J Cn.cl. 377dr 104 or 80cr 513dr 43cr 1 . Birkenlieaci. " I And. f)S4dr 339dr 93cr 24dr 107tlr • j Cncl. G2<3:lr 16/3Ji- 3]-lr 30cr socr ■ j iE.aukapakapa " ! Aud. 330;r 4'J?c.~ 7icr SSO.lr ■ j OnuL 2;;3cr I7cr 2^ct 3Scr 593dr I j • I i ri. stated;?aT o;<i pjpt^g- ! /■ ! pf; _>:, 3 ~:, £ ;- '-:- r ■'-! j „ I. ■'" .5 ? 5 - £ 7. o "' r- j 1 i ~iL*?<'.'. "~j ° 'a- r1 "-'■'"■-' r; -£ ! ;i SSo oi h, 06, ■:: _^ .^ -^ ' . I f--Li ! "*A;?iii;U<. . ... snr ; ;; £• £ s' ■ f *■ | .' ; Dr. Cr. " - I Tii:r-*r,r-i ... ;., yi;;, i

[This, trl-'; :-bi>»vo die estimated income ion, v0.v:..<;..:•■ ridings, ano g'tvos: i\ (ruide i.o expenditure for t.ho current year.| Mr-? no ra n a uia— -Expendit ure of rid I>.:_:■ re-70:11:0 is "made up of produce oi".iM;.tt-f- pjiis proportion '.":■!. subsidy. }?.?■■* proportion of ehiiimaied debit balance of (h-.iwnd Account to be met by i'^ung> or: a vaimuion basis at t!.i':- em! of the year, Colvmns Fos. 2 and 8 added to- ;■";■:■ i "!<<■-.:• jviv?: the toh-ij public works v:q:;.n<:-;<ire to dale of meeting. ■■--■j' ■-'■•; r>i" iiio year the total expenditure should not, of course, exceed the estimated amount of revenue. Riding Balance. —Column No. 8. This, of course, should not exceed the amount of allocation overdraft (see under name of riding.) At the present time, refunds are due to be paid into the following' accounts, and will reduce amount of overdraft : — Mtiiretahi.—Helensville bridge refund, say, .£1,350; 10 per cent in Mairetahi loan, £5j3 ; toiiul, £2,043. Waipareira. -- From Savings Bank,' against Mountain Road loan payments, £ii) 0; re' King's bridge, £30; City Council, £100; Government grant, £50; Phimer. Hamlet grant—flood damage Mountain road, £40; total, £630. Pukear.ua, — Wade-Dairy Flat Road STant, ;iio\v due, approximately £300The Ch^mar; said Mi Wright had put the matter very plainly as vo how iha Council had been running in tho past, and ho.w they stood to-day, Ho moved that the report bo accepted as read. Or Lain?; said he hoped the Council would not deal with this matter too hurriedly. He was deeply concerned as to the probable effect the principle of Mr Wright's arrangement would have upon his riding-. Apart irom ■ the pooling of vehicle licenses, dog tax, etc. there was the danger of one riding paying interest on other riding- accounts. Ho could not see the fairness of his or other ridings paying interest on other riding accounts, Tha Chairman said Mr Lain g had been ehainnavi for two years, and had allowed what he now complained of to go on. Cr Laing moved that the report be not discussed; but an amendment to the contrary was carried. ■ CrLain«: Did the Chairman moan to say that l;h& overdrafts, us apportiono,! by. A/r r Wright, would f-ci::-..(X as gieea in the re-poi-r VvVjiiom' evidence to show \^y }w w'wed *\, ii;e position? ri.T-- '•ifiii^'s cvcrdrai'i. was shown &•:.. -it.Mj'i : arid • xhe estimated revriino J:4:lo. .iSorno ridings v^ouUi benefit by .sucli arrange/V».O!it, and tiiot.e riding councillr'r.s wko were going to benefit would say nothing.. Each would tf-!re lii;- own Wev/: and even if he t.H-'.'i-lict.L-.d by !"hk arrangement, lie v.-f;ujd. ;kh. yijpporfc the Chairv:- ;■■-?■. s snotlosi. (Laughter). Let }''--^--' >-'idings wtiioh had benefitted by i'fiO overdriifcr.-: bo fair enough to a^-ye io pay tiieiv dues for the ben s fits received. Cr Harrison said Cr Laing should lift his hat to Mr Wright for showing how his (Cr Laing's) riding had been robbed while Cr Laing himself was chairman. Cr Laing asked if it would be possible to vote a sum of money for adequately adjusting riding balances ? It was explained by Mr Wright (hat adjustments could be made in riding balances later on, when tho bulk of re organisation was completed, and provided the principle ho- had adopted was acceptable to tho Audit Department. Mr Hart said he felt sure there was a feeling amongst members thru no one riding .should be allowed to benefit at the expense of another, and if some scheme could bo devised by which a s:t;t!iement cor,lt), be arrived at, rhero wouici no doubt; be general .-"i.jrreernont umong councillors. The Clerk was permitted to explain why his balances and these of the Audit Department had not, in the past, agreed. He -aid he wanted to know if the Council took this report as a reflection on. his administration as ivc-o.Huvev. The Council ini-i.ianted that no such iu&liiuatky:! way 'intended. Aftei further cKsoussior. the report was adopted, subject to an :;>oi.jV!:niyieTM. oi ri'/itugs baianoes to oe a;;.'p:-ov(Mi by the Council, ' >)" ' >-ii iver: : r liat-kM-ivr t>."j.c;h at night '■•■" •■ '--■ :? ". ■--•'•■ 0-: v. I/6, 2/6 ■ • ' •' : : " -' •' •■ ■ : ' ... -:vy Sale ;' ■'■• '■'■ ■';; !■■-.. .i ■ :■.-.-;lets and : ■■•■ '■ ,; •-. ■ ■;' ■ '■• ■•;';. ,2s lid, ■• •' - '■.:■. ■■.-■.;:..:.■ .' ■■-■ing &U>. ••■•■•■ ■'} ■■ ■■ :■-■ : --; -•:.. sfcis, ..,.-'■■'■■■- : ■ ■'■■ : ,;'- -'■'•■ ' •■■■ ■■i ails, ;' •■■. .: .•■''■•■' ; '■■■ '■-!-ghtis, ..''•' ■'-.■■•■■• . ■ .;.. .... vr fails. ■ .•■■■■■■ -. ■:.: . m. seems to : . ' •■■■■■■' .- '• ■ ./ingo, you :'■■• ' ' ■"•'•■ :• •" ; ■-,-•; size bottle ;< "'-' r" "'■■•■ •■-. =:■ • '-:■■(>'■ ■■ ■••(at Curo.