COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Shannon News, 1 May 1923, Page 2

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

CRITICISM AT LEVIN. THE COUNTY' CHAIRMANS ANSWER, On Saturday morning, under .h v auspices of the Levin branch of Am Fanner s’’ Union, a largely atti m.ed meeting of ratepayers was held at rmvin for the purpose of going into the question of rating in the County. Mr G. Tullv, President of tli'e branch, was in the chair. There was an attendance of about 60. The chairman of tlie County Council, Mr G. A. Monk, and Councillor Harkness wore present, to reply to criticism and answer questions. A letter was received from Councillor Broadbclt, apologising for non-attend-ance, owing to a family bereavement. The meeting was on the same lines as that held under the auspices of tli'e Farmers' Union some weeks ago, with the exception that a statement of expenditure and revenue derived from the Wirokino Riding, supplied by the County Treasurer, was brought forward for discussion. Although the County administration came in tor considerable criticism in a general way, the meeting was conducted in an excellent spirit, the attitude of those present being apparently one of keen enquiry lather than condemnation. Practically the whole of the business dealt with questions discussed at last meeting. The Chairman in opening the meeting explained that the present gathering was for the purpose of going on with what was started at last meeting. Tuey were there for the purpose of getting some information from the County Council, and also, perhaps, to consider getting some new blood into the Council. Personally, he thought some new

blood was necessary. A letter was read from Mr J. Linklater, M.P., President of the Kairanga Farmers' Union, in reference to the through traffic paying over main roads, and promising to do all in his power to get the main Highway Bill put into operation. A letter, in answer to a communication from the Branch, from the Minister of Public Works, promising to give his earnest consideration to the Main Highways Bill, was x'cad. A detailed statement, in answer to an application from the Farmers’ Union for particulars of expenditure in the Wirokino Riding, was read. Mi T. G. Vincent said he quite appreciated the admirable figures supplied by the County Clerk in answer to the questions asked by the Farmers’ Union, but there was one item which seemed to call for 'explanation. In the Wirokino riding the amount estimated

for maintenance was £IOO per mile. The County Chairman told them that if they did not keep the main roads in order he was done with th'e County. Yet the estimate for Te Horo county was only £2O per mile. Another matter he wished to touch ou was the An-, teeedent Liability. As far as he could ; get the figures, the amount owing, had been in the neighbourhood of £7OOO, yet the Council had raised a sum of £9OOO without any sanction from the ratepayers. They had raised this amount to buy machinery, but he took strong objection to it being done without the sanction of th'e ratepayers. Referring to Wirokino riding again, he said that the estimate had been framed on a most lavish scale. Notwithstanding the fact that the estimates amounted to over £II,OOO the Council had decided to add on another £BOO for good measure. To lop this they were told that if they paid their rates promptly they would have a surplus of £2OOO. Another little matter was the Ilorowhenua water-races. He would like to know if the general body of ratepayers paid interest on these 7 Mr Monk: No, certainly not. These come under a special rating district. Continuing Mr Vincent said he would like an explanation of why it, had been necessary to raise such a sum to cover the antecedent liability. He would like to compliment the County Treas- .

urcr on th'e lucid explanation given, but he failed to see how the figures had j been arrived at. I Cr. Ilarkm-ss eomplimeuted Mr ; n j cent on the aide manner in which ho had put hi-- case. Mr Vincent had critic,ised the antecedent liability. He , mu.‘A say ilia": he was not satisfied with i the loan or the ir.t.». of interest lumse'f. 1 The Govei nment lad forced th'e Co Wy to raise this loan. The, money was refused them by the State Aivancos and Public Trust, and they had to go on the public market and pay OJ per cent, for ! the money. They should have been al- [ lowed to raise this money as an ordinary loan, carrying a sinking fund and repayable in the ordinary manner, and the right people to blame were the Government. With regard to the water races it had been said that the water rate had been raised. They had found that with the increased cost of ! maintenance they were accumulating a ! debit and it had been decided that the ' rate musi be increased to pay that off. The County must work on a definite policy, and pack department must be

made to pay its way. With regard to the overdraft, which had been over £6OOO, this was an obligation which hud to be met. If they had not raised the money for this antecedent liability the Government auditor could have compelled the members of the Council to pay the deficiency out of their own pockets. This year they hoped to have a credit balance, and |ie could say con-

fidently that next year they could look for a reduction in rales, lie thought the policy should be-better mads and less rates, and the only way to manage' that was to put down tar-sealed roads and save maintenance.

Mr H. ff. Richards brought forward a

carefully compiled list showing the rates gathered in the County over a number of years and the increase from year to year, and contended that the county was not benefitting accordingly. He severely criticised the quantity of work done by County employees and questioned the necessity for the increase in the cost of administration.

Several other speakers followed each criticising some particular aspect of the linancial administration.

Mr Monk, who was greeted with applause on rising, said that there hud been a good deal of criticism of a destructive nature. If they had brought forward a little constructive criticism it would have been better. As regards the antecedent liability, he would ask them this: Would any of those present like to go back to the days when they carted metal in drays to the Wirokino bridge? No! One way the antecedent liability had been accumulated was that the Council had decided that it was a good time to raise money to buy machinery. Another thing was that the shortage of houses in Levin had made it necessary to build a house for the County Engineer and also workmen’s cottages, and these had been paid for out of the antecedent liability. Last, but not least, was the debit balance on the Wirokino riding. When ihe Local Bodies' Finance Bill had been passed it had been made necessary to clear up all outstanding debits by the 31st March, 1922. The Council had deliberately run the antecedent liability as far as the Bank would allow them to, but the,money had been judiciously sp’ent and they had got value for their money in machinery, etc. He would give them some figures. One contract for the crushing and carting of metal to the Wirokino bridge by drav had been 18s 6d per yard. Later, with the

County lorry, they had put metal on the same place at 11s 3d per yard. It had been said that the County raised a lot of money for which they had no need, but lie could assure them that money had never be'en raised without beingrequired. Mr Vincent had said that the estimate for the upkeep of the main road in the Wirokino riding was £IOO per mile, whilst in Iris own riding *it was only £26. He explained that in the previous year £360 had been spent on the To Horo roads, which lessened the expenditure in the year taken for comparison. The Te Horo roads still required considerable expenditure to bring them up to the Wirokino standard. They were holding up this expenditure until they got the necessary machinery, but if it was taken into account there would not be a great deal of difference between the road cost in Tc Horo and Wirokino.

The Main Highways scheme was the solution of the main roads difficulty. He would advise ratepayers to put into the new Council men who Wj/ahl see that advantage was taken of this Act. Through traffic was such a consideration that he did not think the County should pay more than 25 per cent, of the upkeep of main roads. It was a good Act and left, the expenditure of 1 the money in the hands of the Local Bodies. It was proposed to set up two boards, one for the South Island, and one for the North. These would determine the main highways. District councils would then allocate the cost. It was proposed to set up the Board in May, 1923, the Bill to come into oporalion in May, .1921. There had been a lot of criticism of the cost of getting work done, but he would say this that it compared favourable with that of other comities.

Mr Vincent: “Yes that is so. I have the figures for the Counties North and South and find they are about the same. ’ ’ In reply to a question from Mr Adkin, he said that he could giv’e a definite assurance Hint rates would be reduced next year. | A general discussion followed, certain actions of the County Council being criticised by different speakers, the general tone being that whilst nothing very definite could be brought against the Council, a change in personnel might effect some improvement. On the suggestion of the Chairman a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Monk and Councillor Harkuoss for their explanations, and to the County Clerk for the information supplied was carried by acclamation. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting, which then sat to select men to contest the coming County flections.