THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." FRIDAY. MAY 26, 1916 FRANKLIN COUNTY FINANCE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 177, 26 May 1916, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." FRIDAY. MAY 26, 1916 FRANKLIN COUNTY FINANCE.

In spite of all criticisn passed on the Franklin County Council in regard to fiuancial management in the earlier stages ct its career it must be generally admitted that the Council can now claim to be in a thoroughly solvent state as revealed by the figures quoted at the last meeting by the Clerk lor the year ending March 31st last. Even though, bv reason of the war and the tightness of the money market, no ambitious programme was attempted last year good solid work in all parts of the County characterised lh° Council's legislation. A lot, however, yet remains to be dore before the settlers cf the back-blcek regiors of tbe County can be provided with reasonable facilities of civilisation but tbe Council is steadily forging ahead In its devchpnient of the whole if the district it controls. Public contidenc: id the Council is alsa demonstrated by lha fact that out ol fifteen Koad B'jards that were in existence when tbe County Counc'l was formed el:ven hive nieiged and four only now remain outside the Council's jurisdiction. Of this quartette, the ratepayers of the Upahcke Road District petitioned last week for inclusion in the County, a similar petition is also b'in? numuously signed by ratepayers ol the Fokeno Road District, httle opposition is anticipatetd to the merging of the Maungatawhiri Road District, and although (he t'osiliori in the Karaka Road District is complicated by a divergence of opinion on the" subject the Codncil confidently hopes that these ratepayers will not be the only ones to continue an independent course. Apart from (he dual payment of rates and the natural inability of a Road Board to secire from the Government so much consideration tor a grant or subsidy tor any specified work as an application by tbe County Council would receive, the main argument in favour cf ell Road Boards merging is that instead of the County now receiving about £SOO per annum as the Government subsidy on rates collected it would become entitled to something like £2OOO, the Uw curiously enough restricting such subsidies unless all Road Boac's are merged. This extra revenue would assist the Council n»uteiially in rosdirg expenditure over the whole of its area, 'then again it is certain

that more expert supervision over works rusults tinder a County Council than under a Koad Board The year's work by the Council has been attended by extreme unanimity among the councillors in helping forward ore another in the progress of tbeir respective ridingp, and it would be difficult to Ikd another lecal governing authority in wbicb all the rr.embres corperate so loyally together. As chairman, Mr Jo3eph Flanagan has prtclically clevotui the wbols el hi 3 time to the all'airs oi the County and, thank 3 possibly to the lead he has given, other Councillors have tean commendably active. At the close of the financial year IUIMS the Council were laced with a debit balance in the riding accounts ot £5661 as against outstanding rates amounting to £1763. An increase in the County rate thus became obligatory if finances were to be [ilaeed on a firm looting and accordingly i'or the past year rates

compared with £6BOB in rates c;l-----lec;at)le for 1914-15. At the same time progress was not lost sight of and has been made in many directions. It is therefore a testimony to good and economical wo king that on March 31st last the Council's debit riding balances only stcol at £3096, a figure that was just covered by outstanding rates totalling £2408 and Government subsidies due £7OO. In otter rcorc's the County's had entirely disappeared apart ircm liabilities en the then cuireit works which woulj certainly rot ba mere, and probably les?, than simihr liabilities existing a jear previously. It a only right to mention that the watchful eye on expenditure practised by the County Clerk, Mr AUn V Diy, and the advice tendered by him to the Cour.cilhrs in regard to advisable disbursement? have in a. latge measure contributed to the sour.d financial standing that the Council now tnj ys, and in the personality of its Clerk it is evident that the Council has a valuable asset-a fact that does credit to the wisdom of the members of tbe Council in their selection last year of Mr Day for the appointment. Tribute must also be paid to the skilled work of the County Engineer (Mr J. F. MoArthur), for thanks to his ability and energy all' schemes* put in hand have been carried out in a most elhcient manner, and to the distinct satisfaction of tho ratepayers.