The Chronicle LEVIN TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1917

Levin Daily Chronicle, 16 October 1917, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1917

County Finance. Ratepayers in the Horowhenua County have every reason to be satisfied with the position of the County finances. The special report presented to Saturday's meeting by the Treasurer, Mr Goldsmith, will be found in this issue. It covers the year ending March 31 last, and shows that in that period there was an improvement of nearly £10,000, that is, a debit balance of £5348 was converted into a credit of £3798 in the course of the twelve months. That result has not been achieved by the method adopted by some local bodies —that of starving the roads and neglecting the legitimate claims of the ratepayers for works of public utility. A total sum of £8000 was spent on the roads in the year, which is evidence of the ca'-e that has been bestowed upon them. The present position is due largely to the manner in which the rates have been collected. It will be noticed that a really remarkable improvement has taken place in this respect and as a result a larger Government subsidy has been earned. The reduction of the overdraft by these means has, in turn, brought about a saving of interest to the extent of more than half the previous year's payment- These are results upon which the Council and the Treasurer may well be congratulated. They have succeeded in putting the finances on a sound basis and on that account deserve the thanks of the ratepayers.