COUNTY'S FINANCIAL PROBLEM.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 37, 14 May 1915, Page 2

COUNTY'S FINANCIAL PROBLEM.

♦■ The New Rates. At yesterday's meeting of the County Council lengthy consideration was given ti the financial position of the Council and to the provisionof funds) for the ensuing year, tbe necessary rates being determined on subjfet to being formally struck at next month's meeting. The chairman (Mr J. Flanagan) intimated that the Finance Corn* mittee had decided that in future each riding would have to stand on its own footing and would consequently have to provide for its own expenditure, keeping within ita legal overdraft, instead of obtaining assistance from other ridings. The chairman added that in conjunction with the engineer he had prepared a list and estimate of works that were of an urgent nature and should be carried out by the Council during the year.

For the Awhitu riding, a rate of £d in the £ on the capital value was agreed to, being the same figure as last year, the overdraft indebtedness for the Council being only £99 15s 9d. Cr Renall mentioned that he intended to take fall advantage of the overdraft to which his riding was entitled, and to that end he would object to other ridings making a smaller rate than was necessary for their requirements. For the Waiuku riding a rate of lid as fixed on was against 6-6ths of a penny last year.—Cr Higginson favoured a Id rate, but the chairman pointed out that the riding bad an overdraft ot £llßl and £7BO had been put down in respect of argent necessary works; consequently a Id rate would not be sufficient— Cr Motion remarked that the large overdraft was to a great extent the legacy handed down by the old Road Board.—Cr Higginson eventually expressed his willingness to accept a lid rate. For the Waipipi riding Cr Motion proposed and it was agreed that the rate should be |d in the £ aa compared with a 2d rate last year. Cr Motion explained that owing to the revaluation of the riding a id rate would return a greater sum than last year's jd rate, and as against the riding's overdraft of £637 the riding bad an asset of £875 value ot metal on hand. Practically all the roads in the riding were metalled and there would be only maintenance expenses to meet *b no new works would be necessary.

For the Pukekobe riding a Id rate was decided on, last year's rate being fd. A Id rate was estimated to produce £1998 as against tbe existing overdraft of £IO6O and urgent works proposed: Pukekohe West £1225 and Pukekobe Bast £B7l. Doubts were expressed whether a Id rate would meet requirements, but both Crs Wilcox and Woods guaranteed that before the end of the year the overdraft would be reduced by £SOO, to accomplish which some of tbe scheduled works tj be put In band would if .teceßsary be omitted. For Mauku riding a rate of 2id in tbe £ was fixed, last year's rate being Jd.—Ur Henry proposed a Id rate, stating that although the riding's overdraft was £142 f there were spawls jo band to tbe value of £SOO, and witb decreased expenditure he thought the over' draft could be reduced with a Id rate. In view of the levying of a War Tax be trusted that the rata would not be higher than Id.—The chairman pointed out that in addition to tbe overdraft of £1428 there was a sum of £2OO due on current works and a Id rate (which would produce £1469) would accordingly mean an addition of £I4OO on the overdraft, without spending a penny on tbe roads, for which works £1345 had been scheduled.— Cr Higginßon thought the Mauku riding should be placed in tbe same position as bis (Waiuku) riding, and be moved as an amendment that the Mauku rate should be lid. Other members concurred, and Cr Henry reluctantly acquiesced. In Drury riding a ljd rate will take the place of last year's id rate. The chairman, however, explained that in the meantime two Koad Boards in the riding bad meged and th 3 new rate would in re ility not be more than was previously paid. He added that the ovndtuft stood at £1066 and a rate as proposeJ would produce £2030, which would enable a good programme of work to be carried out with a reduction of tbe over dratt.

For riding tha rate of id in the £ will be the same aa last year. Cr Lyons pointed out that the riding's overdraft was only £l2O, and very little new work was proposed. In the Hunua riding last year's id rate is to give place to a rate of lid in the £. Cr Lockwood explained that with an overdraft of £1066 and the necessity of putting new roads in hand he could do do other than agree to the levying of an increased rate.

The chairman notifiad his intention of moving at the next meeting that the rates should be struck aa mentioned in the foregoing, together with Special Rates as previously passed, and a Hospital and Charitable Aid rate of one-sixth of a penny in the £.