KIWITEA COUNTY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9112, 3 April 1908, Page 8

KIWITEA COUNTY.

meeting of ratepayers. A meeting was held at Waituua yesterday of ratepayers of Wait-ana and Ongo“Ridings to discuss the administration of the funds of the County. Mr H. D. Densham presided. Mr E. Shannon said it was chiefly due to him the meeting had been called, and the cause was that he 'and several of his neighbours disapproved of the manner in which they were rated and the money was expended. The opinion had been expressed that the rates were too high and he endorsed that opinion in regard to the two ridings. So far as he could judge there had not been an expenditure in proportion to the increased amount collected. It appeared as if a large proportion of that increase whs going to maintain roads in the northern part of the County. During the last three years his own rates had increased 100 per cent. In 1906 his general rate was £lO Os 4d and his last rate was £3l 17s 6d. In the last amount was included a special rate of 9-53 in the £ for the Ongo loan. The interest of that loan up to 1906 had been paid out of thirds and in his opinion a general rate of should have been sufficient to meet ordinary expenses and for the Ongo loan. Not only did there seem to be no satisfactory explanation as to why the rates had increased, but they seemed to be getting less value for their expenditure as the roads were not in as good a condition as tnree years ago. In some places the roads were absolutely dangerous, as for instance, at Davis’ cutting where the filling on the top was hardly sufficiently wide for a to be taken across safely. Another bad place was Pearce’s cutting. The roads were not being well metalled. The reason given for not properly finishing the works he had men tioued was the want of funds. It appeared as if it went in deputations and clerical expenses. The only argument he had heard in favour of the system of rating adopted was that i-t promoted harmony of feeling in the Council. He thought the ratepayers in their ridings were paying too much for that harmony and it would be better perhaps if their representatives were not so harmonious. In his opinion if the rating was to be uniform then it should be on a uniform value. Under the present system a man with 1000 acres might not pay more rates than a man with 100. The rating should be on the differential system and the money collected in the riding should be there expended. In regard to the suggestion that under such a system there would ba numerous demands ipr roads to be made main roads, the Council would have the power to refuse improper applications. Mr S. J. Carman said he and Mr Bruce were the only members of the Council who had been in- favour of the uniform system of rating when the subject, was before the Council, but under the present subdivision of the County he did not think the differential would be to the advantage of Waituua "Riding, for the grates would rather be increased than decreased under the present Act, owing to its provision for the up-keep of main roads. He thought; probably next session, the Act would be amended so as to render differential rating imperative instead of permissive* And in regard to the boundaries of ridings lie thought they should be determined in some degree by the mileage of roads to be maintained. In regard to the receipts, and expenditure he noticed that during the past three years the receipts from Waituna Riding had been £1334 7s, and the expenditure £I6BB 19s 3d. Adding, however, the amount receivable by subsidy on rates it would bring up the receipts to £1669, an amountstill under the amount expended. In Ongo Riding the amounts were £1835 12s 2d and £1915 1 4s Id respectively, showing a difference of £llO 11s in favour of the riding. The amount actually expended in maintenance in this riding was £1221 0s 6d, during the three years and for administrative expenses £724 13a 7d.

In reply to a remark from Mr Hare that only two-thirds of the receipts were available for expenditure on road work, and the question as to why the expenditure had so largely increased, Mr Carman replied that 'the amount expended in maintenance in the year 1903 was £3455 7s 3d, and in 1907 £3943 Os 7d. The increase was largely due to the increased price of labour, amounting to 7 per cent. He explained what were the principal administrative expenses. Mr Pearce said six years ago the present system of rating was not in vogue. There was a rate struck over each riding according to its requirements and the people who wanted a large expenditure had to provide the money. Now the people who had the highest valuations had to provide money for those who had lower valuations. His rates had risen from £5 15s to £ls 5s lOd, an increase of 180 per cent, and even for the general rate alone it was 95 per cent increase.

Mr French said his increase had been from £4 14s to £9 12s lid. Mr S. Williamson stated his rates had increased from £22 to £l4O, and Mr Campion said his rates had increased 95 per cent. Mr E. Shannon proposed that this meeting of ratepayers of Waituua and Ougo Ridings strongly protest against the uniform system of rating adopted by the Eiwitea County Council and the practice of general expenditure throughout the County, believing that the system has been the chief cause of tne enormous increase of rates which has taken place during the past three y t ears. Mr A. E. Pearce, in seconding the Iproposal, said notwithstanding the explanation of Mr Carman it did not remove the dissatisfaction caused by the fact that the rates had been doubled.

On the motion being put, about half of those present voted in favour of it and none against, and the motion was declared carried.

Mr Carman, replying to several other questions, stated that the expenditure was always according to the advice of the Engineer, The latter had been instructed to widen the roadway complained ot at Davis’ cutting. It was true Mr Taylor’s thirds had been expended without Mr Taylor’s sanction. He would advise the latter to represent the matter to the Council. When he went into the Council in 1902 there was a sum of £1022 ls9d outstanding due for rates; now the amount due was £ll 10s lOd. No less than £3OO had been lost, not being recoverable. The overdraft was then £2087 IBs lOd ; now there was a credit balance

of £475 19s 9d. Then the assets over liabilities were £2645 7s Bet; now they were £8309 9is ;3d. That was instead of having a deficiency of £8772, which bad been paid off, they bad a credit balance. This was a result unique in the management of Counties in the Dominion. There had been no increase in the rates, except one jear of in the £ to pay off the £1032 Is 9d taken from the land fund. Mr Shannon suggested that in future in respect to metalling contracts the Council provide the metal. Mr Hare said metal for repairing should he put on more thickly if less length were done. To put on a sprinkling of metal on a hard road was only wasting money. Mr Carman, in reply, said at present there were no main roads in the County. It would be a mistake to spend £IOOO on a bridge over the Kiwitea on Mackay’s line and the County ratepayers would not sanc- ; tion such expenditure. He vyas pleased to see the ratepayers taking an interest in County matters. Mr Shannon said they all sympathised with Mr Short in his illness, but he thought it should have been the ratepayers and not the Council who should have considered whether it would have been advisable for him to resign his seat or not. Mr Carman said the interest of the Ongo ratepayers had not suffered. It was resolved that Mr Carman he requested to place the motion passed by the meeting before the Council and a vote of thanks was given to Mr Carman for his clear explanation of County affairs. Notices