MATAMATA COUNTY FINANCES.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 136, 10 June 1926, Page 5

MATAMATA COUNTY FINANCES.

", TREASURER’S REPORT. The treasurer to the Matamata County Council (Mr. C. F. E. Barton) reported as follows to his council at the last meeting-: “ I regret that, owing to pressure of other work, I have not been able to complete the balance of the accounts, and am therefore unable to give you as full a report as I could have wished. “ I have therefore confined my attention to ,the preparation of the attached statements of (X) the rates collected during the past financial .year, and (2) the accounts of the •several ridings. “ It w.ll be noted that the finances •of the ridings are, on the whole, in a .somewhat better position than was the case at the close of .the previous ■year also that the amount of arrears of general rates outstanding is less by some £BOO than was the case at March 31, 1925. These conditions are N (*iio doubt due to the special endeavours which have recently been instituted for .the recovery of overdue ■ rates. * “ The special rate collections show an apparently less satisfactory position, but it should be borne in mind that the arrears for the past year include an amount in respect of i:he Matamata No. 2 loan, the special rate for which was not levied prior to 1925. The total receipts from all sources during the year ended March 31, 192(1, amounted to £94,048 (including £58,800 loan moneys and £11,790 Gov•ernment grants and- subsidies). The fact that so large an amount of GovA ernment money was to hand during the year is due to the strenuous work put in by the engineer and his staff in preparing claims for moneys due in time to ensure their receipt before the close of the financial year. “ The total expenditure under- all headings for the past year was £45,464. I am not supplying details of this expenditure in my report, as I understand the engineer is dealing fully with .this matter in the report which he is presenting to-day. “ I understand .that the engineer has proposals for the expenditure of the main roads loan, which will exhaust the funds in hand by December next. Consideration should therefore given to the question of raising a fucther amount on account of this loan before that date. “ Consequent on the commeneenrent of the large scheme of road improve- ( ment shortly before my taking office with this council, and the resultant rush of work entailed owing to she necessity of carrying out as much work as possible wh le weather conditions remained suitable, and' in view of the recent elections and the arrangements in connection therewith, the time of your staff has been very fully occupied, and I have, up to the present, not had the opportunity to deal - with many matters in connecL. tion with the work of .this office as ' thoroughly as I could have wished, hut with the additional clerical assistance now provided, I .trust that before long the arrears of work will he overtaken, and, in particular, I hope to be able to report more frequently on the finances of the county than has been practicable during the past few months. “ X would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the assistance rendered to me by the other members of your staff, which has helped me considerably in the pro- ™ cess of adjustment to new conditions Particularly would I desire to record my indebtedness to Mr. Lewis, whose knowledge of past end present conditions has been unreservedly placed at my disposal.” CURRENT YEAR’S RATES. Ma’an’r-.ta riding, amount £2298, collected £1798, outstanding £453; Peria, £1919, £1599, £236: Tirau, £1928, £1612, £277; Te Poi, £2039. £1528. * Putaruru. £2005. £1535. £437: TokoToa, £llß9, £986, £162; Karap'ro, £llß4, £961, £199; Maungatautari, £IOO4, £760, £235. PAST YEAR’S RATES. Mata—a’-a riding, amenrs Anril 11925, £llO6, collected £359, outstanding £247: Peria, £368. £2BB, £.80; 'Tirau, £383, £334, £49:* Te Poi. £959, £BSO, £108; Okoroire, £375, £306, £6B; Putaruru. £742, £4Ol, £341; Tokoroa, £lB7, £155, £32; ICarapiro, £233, £lßl, £sl; Maungatautari, £345, £227, £llß.