“PALTRY CRITICISM.”

Shannon News, 8 May 1923, Page 3

“PALTRY CRITICISM.”

COUNTY CHAIRMAN HITS OUT

CHARGES OF INEFFICIENCY

REFUTED

RIDING FINANCES IN HEALTHY

CONDITION

Saturday’s meeting of the Horowlienua County Council was the last, be-

fore the elections on Wednesday. The County Treasurer (Mr Goldsmith) presented the Riding balance sheets for the year ending March 31, 1923, showing the County finances to be in a. remarkably strong condition. The Chairman, Cr G. A. Monk, took tihe opportunity of making a vigorous reply to recent criticism launched at the Council’s administration. TREASURER’S WORST YEAR.

Mr Goldsmith said the balance-sheet was subject to checking but would not be altered much. This had been the most difficult year he had ever experienced as County Treasurer. In the first place there had been a new valuation which involved the adjustment of 118 special rates. This was work which only one or two persons could do and as it was in 1913-14 that the last valu-

ation was made, it was new work for the clerical staff, who were further handicapped by the fact that there were not very good records of the past. He had had to go to Wellington on one or two occasions to get information and then without, complete success. However, the matter was now

in fair order and they had left records that would help those who had to follow them in office when the next valuation was made. One result of this delay was that the could not be got out early and there was not, much money coming in to meet current expenses. He had had to delay paying the hospital levy and interest as long as he dared. Over £9OOO of rates were outstanding on March 31. but since then over £2OOO had been collected and if things went on as at present they would soon get the money in.

The Tokomaru Riding finished the vear with a credit of £1155, and it had £I4OO of general rates outstanding on March 31. They seemed to pay their

rates in. Tokomaru. Wirokino Riding had to hear a big share of the antecedent liability, £IOOO —though this was a t little less than was estimated. The Riding account showed a debit of £342. Against that a certain amount would be obtained from

the Ohau Bridge subsidy, about £lO4. and there was £500"to come in refunds: for money spend on the wa-ter-races deviation in anticipation of loans. There was £3OOO in general rate outstanding at March 31, so that the Riding was in a good position. The Otaki Riding showed a credit of £535 arid there was still £llOO in

rales to collect. Te Horo had a small credit balance of £76 and there was £I4OO in rates outstanding. The incoming Council would not

have anything like the amount, of work the present Council had done, and it would find the riding accounts

in a healthy condition. The Treasurer said that, at the time the Council framed its estimates, in view of the financial stringency jrrevailing it. wo-

uld have been impossible for any Council to have done nnythig else but strike a fairly heavy rate. The Government subsidy wa-s not quite so healthy, being £3OO below the previous year, due to delay in payment of the rates. The new valuation had cost £421 and unless they had another valuation which some people were clamouring for, the expenses this year -would not be more than £67. Office salaries were slightly less, printing and advertising about the same, and the expenditure on small birds destruction had fallen from £l4O to £33. “It is a very much easier thing to collect a low rate than a (high one,” said the Treasurer. “The majority of people are sensible and if you exnlain things to them they are satisfied, though there are some who are not so easily satisfied.”

‘ INEFFICIENCY” THROWN BACK. The chairman, Cr. Monk, said he did not want to be personal, but the remark was made at the recent public meeting by one gentleman that he could sum up the whole of the Council’s business in the words inefficiency from top to bottom. That sounded very cheap, and the speaker did not justify the remark by one single instance of inefflcency. The gentleman who made the remark had been chair-

man before the present speaker, there being only twelve months between them. When the gentleman who now talked of inefficiency was chairman be was io exactly the same position as Cr. Monk and .the present clerk had been—the same valuations ami about the same rate was struck. He had only been able to get about £I.BOO in Government subsidy on rates collected. In about his third year as clerk, Mr Goldsmith, with the same rate and the same valuation got the maximum subsidy of £2500. Was that inefficiency? It answered the whole thing. A great deal of criticism had also been directed against the Engineer though he had asked that it should he levelled against the Council. ODIOUS COMPARISONS. • • “I think these comparisons that are bing made- by our critics betwieen 1914-15 and the present day are odious,” continued the chairman, for the simple reason that there is no comparison. (Hear. hear). There is no comparison so far as costs are concerned and in regard to traffic it is laughable to think that a man should go to the trouble of making them, if there has been such a. tremendous increase in maintenance what has brought it about. Something surely is responsible. For one thing, remember that the large estates in the .County have been cut up in recent years, twelve years ago the Gear Estate in my riding was one large: run. To-day it comprises 40 beautiful farms all carrying cows Where before the traffic 'consisted of cattle or sheep using the road a few times a year, now milk is being carted every day and sometimes

twice a day to the factory from all those farms. That was one instance. Right through the County the large estates had been cut up—the McDonald. Buffer and Kebbeli estates were some that could be mentioned.” In the particular locality he had already referred to, the southern side of the railway line at, The Horo, there were previously only partly metalled Maori tracks. Now there "were the Beach road with. 40 settler, the Te Waka road continuation, the Swamp road, and the Doctor’s road, everyone of which was closely settled and improved. The result was a rise in valua tion and in usage of the roads. If

that was so, a great deal more must be coming off the land, arguing that the land can pay more. Any comparison under such circumstances was absolutely ridiculous. There was fifty-fold the traffic on the roads that there was in 1915. Cr. McLeavev: You are below the mark. THE TRAFFIC BURDEN. Coniinuing, the chairman said the bulk of the heavy traffic in 1915 was being now carried on the railways. Now wool, benzine, butter and even bacon and eggs were being taken over the roads; to say nothing of the general motor traffic. That, was the burden the County had had to bear. He thought that, burden was shortly going to he lifted. It rested entirely with the local bodies, in the amount of pressure they exerted in regard to the Main Highways Act. as to the relief, lhnv w'c-rc' groino to ecf. It was for ratepayers to return men who would see that full advantage was taken ot the provisions of the Act. RATES CAN BE REDUCED.

The new Council, continued Cr. Monk, is going to come into a position that is really good. The first thing they will be'able to do is to reduce the rates irom Tokomaru to Te Horo. The position was far better than it was 12 months ago, particularly in Wirokino. Owing to the metal that had been put out, the road that cost £IOO to maintain last year would only cost £SO and the Countv Engineer endorsed that statement. He was very pleased to hear from Cr. Harkness that the general opinion of the farmers attending the Farm School last week from a.ll parts of the Wellington Province was that lire Horowhenua roads compared very favourably with those in their own localities. DANGER OF CHEAP MEN.

As for the cost of administration, nothing was said, by critics about il:e quality of the work being done to-day. Where they had an efficient and reliable staff, they should he prepared to pay for it. (Hear, hear). The results ol employing cheap men were evident all over the Dominion. Under the methods employed, in • the County office the; work was very much more efficient than in the past, and the County Treasurer could tell them lucidly and at short notice the position of every account. RETIRING COUNCILLORS.

He hoped the councillors seeking to come hack wuuid be returned and he congratulated those returned unopposed. He placed on record the support, lie-had received from the Conned. “As you know, I have, occupied this chair for ninny years—perhaps too long for my own good,” said Cr. Monk. He would never have got to the poim lie had done without the assistance of the Council as a whole. He paid a tribute to the retiring councillors. Cr. McLeavey had given wonderful service to the ratepayers on this and a previous occasion to the benefit of the County as a whole. He had not confined his interest to his own riding, and the Council and ratepayers should appreciate it. He regretted also Cr. Knox’s intention to .retire. He had not been a, talking man. but worked quietly and well. A LOYAL STAFF. The Council could not, wish lor a more loyal staff than they had. “It has been said that one reason why 1 should be shifted,is that lam on 100 friendly terms with the staff. That is very paltry and small, and I am very pleased to say that I, as chief executive officer, have been very friendly with the staff. Why on earth should it be my duty to come here, figuratively levelling a pistol at their heads, and say: I want so and so done. The work can be done by other methods than that.

’JOY RIDING WITH THE ENGINEER

“Another criticism is that 1 knock about too much in ihe Engineer’s car. My reason for going with the Engineer is that I want to make myseil J'ulry conversant with tho whole County. Thai, is very paltry criticism, indeed, and it it came to ihe public platform 1 would know how to deal with it. When it is handed in at the b; ek door, people sometimes lake notice of it. Finally the chairman thanked the press for the accurate reporting of County affairs, and resumed liis scat amidst applause from the Council.

MUD SLINGING TACTICS

Or. F. .1. Ryder congratulated the Clerk on the excellent manner m which lie had prepared the balance sheet. The ratepayers in Wirokino were losing a valuable representative in Cr. Mcl.eavey, though, the speaker had not always rubbed noses with him at the Council table. He also regretted Ch. Kno-xT retirement, mid deprecated the mud-throwing that had gone on during the election. BURST BALLOONS.

Cr. Ilarkness said he had been on many public bodies, but he had no hesitation in saying Unit'the work of this Council was carried out in a most, efficient way. In regard to the clerical work, they had one of the most efficient clerk lie had c>ver come in contact with. The wonder was that this district was able to- retain his .services, for £450 ,a year. He had known far less capable men getting £2OOO a year. Yet it was being circulated throughout the County lhat their clerk’s salary wag soaring up to £looo.a year.. He \ya.s glad to see that, the chairman recently exploded that little balloon. The ratepayers had

been rather dumb founded when they learned the truth. Cr. Harkness predicted that a few more balloons would be burst before the election. The Council had had a few legacies from the past to deal with and the Engineer undoubtedly had a hard row to hoe When he came here. In regard to the criticism of Ihe chairman’he said they did not want a parochial chairman but one who would take an interesl in every riding. He hoped they would see Crs. MeLea.vev and Knox at the Council table again at a future date. NO DOMINATION. Cr. Broadbetl said the position from the Council’s point, of view was quite satisfactory and their critics should point out where they were spending the thousands of pounds of the ratepayers’ money wrongly as was alleged. The chairman was accused of dominating the Council. I? the new aspirants to County honours came there, under Mr Monk, they would find that there was no domination. The business was so lucidly put before them that in many cases they only had lo follow tire lead given, but there were councillors at the table who did not hesitate to speak their minds when occasion arose. (Hear, hear). The chairman and county Clerk had done their best in the interests of the ratepayers, and it showed small appreciation when they got such destructive criticism as they had done in the'last

few weeks. The work done in Wirokino was reasonably well done. They got as much to-day as ever they did and perhaps a little more. It was a stratige tiling that the employees of public bodies did not seem to" realise that they had an obligation to work. Tlie chairman: You' don't apply that statement generally of course.

Cr. Broaribett agreed that he was only referring to certain cases. He added his appreciation of Cr. McLeavev’s services and regretted Cr. Knox’s vpfircrrrent. remarking that it took a certain time for new councillors to become ■'acquainted with the work find Cr. lCnr.x was lenvincr iust when he was doing so. It had been a pleasure to work wilh the staff, any information being supplied at any time. TOKOMARU COUNCILLORS.

Cr. J. R. Whvt.e thanked the chair-

man for his references to the speaker’s return. He took it that the ra.teoayers were satisfied or he would nol he there. He wished the councillors seking re-election success and that the retiring councillors would return at some future date. Cr. Barker endorsed Cr. Whyte’s remarks. CR. McLEAVEY’S FAREWELL. Cr. McLeavey said the time had arrived for him to say an revoir to the Council. He was sorry to have to retire, but unforeseen’ circumstances were responsible. It was some consolation to hear councillors say how sorry they were—just as sorry as he was. There was nothing he would have liked better Ihan a good clean fight. The only criticism be had heard uf himself was that he went out too much with the Engineer. Tf that was B’o nnlv complaint he was verv plea* ed. “When they saw me with the Engineer I was on the- Council's business. | got. nu joy-riding, out of it.” He .congratulated the Tokomaru rateivivers on iheir good sense and hoped

ail In's colleagues would be returned. He thanked Mr Goldsmith and the «taff lor the courtesy always shown him.

Cr. Knox thanked the speakers for their remarks. He came l on to- the Council a novice and during his term had acquired a great deal of knowledge that would have stood him in good stead . if he had been able to hand again. He- hoped his successor would carry on the work as it had been in the past. Or. Bryant said Cr. McT.ea.vey had been a very old friend of his and he greatly regretted that they were losing' him. The speaker had done his best on the Council and still had a good deal to do. He would like to get 1 hack for that reason.

THE STAFF’S ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Mr Goldsmith said that for nearly 20 years he had been connected with local bodies and lie always found councillors good people to get on with. Even with ratepayers, when they came in with iheir bristles up, there was a wav of smoothing them down. He thanked the councillors for their references to himself. So long as lie was the servant of the Council he would continue to serve Ihem as he bad done in the past.

The Comity engineer thanked tire chairman and Council .for their support. He had heard a g'ood heal of criticism of himself, hut tie could only say that since he hod been here he bad done his very best, so- much so (hat he had; worked himself to a, standstill recently. The Council then rose.