HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 5 June 1925, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

TREASURER’S ANNUAL REPORT.

At the annual Statutory meeting ol the Horowhenua County Council the following report of the year’s working was submitted by the treasurer (Mr. F. H. Hudson): — “In presenting a report on the accounts of the Council for the year ended 31st March, 1925, I have to state that, viewed from a general standpoint, it is pleasing to record that the finances of the County may be considered to be in a fairly satisfactory position. From a rate collector’s point of view rt would appear that amongst the farming community there are evidences that the tide has turned from a state of depression to a more steady period oi prosperity. During the year cnangc.-' , of ownership or interests in properties

' have been fairly numerous as could only be expected after a “slump’ per- I iod. Rates and Rate Collection.—The year commenced with an amount of £9ooo arrears carried forward from previous years, which together with £20,442 tnc amount of rates levied for the yciu, made' the total collectable during the period amount to £29,472. Of this amount £23,421 was received during the year consisting of £5517 previous years’ arrears and £17,903 current The year therefore closed with late.' outstanding amounting to prising previous years’ arrears £.>sl.<• and arrears for the year amounting to £2,538. As the result of the Council s action in regard' to outstanding rate? towards the. close of the year I am pleased to report that satisfactory arrangements have been made with a majority of the ratepayers. Steps are now being taken to safeguard the interests of the Council when no arrangements have been made. It is, therefore, possible that the legacy of the past few years may be considerably disposed of before the end of the next financial year. Tokomaru.- —In this Riding there was a credit balance of £2869 at the commencement of the year. The rate struck (id in the £) was l-8d less than tarere Road, £900; total £2700. Two blown. There was only one man lying maintenance and sundry receipt? amounting to £463 and £93 respectively, together with share of general revenue (£3536) the total receipts amount to £6961. The expenditure which was within the estimates was reduced by the fact that certain works affected by main highway and drainage operations W ere not completed or required to oe undertaken within the year. It will thus be seen that, although £3112 was spent on metalling, wages, timber, etc., and £552 on share on machinery and plant working account, antecedent lia bility and Shannon punt, the year ends with a credit balance of £3296. Although the riding may appear to be in a highly satisfactory position it is possibly wise \o take into consideration the fact that sooner or later a fairly heavy expenditure may arise in connection with the new bridge over the Manawatu River, the maintenance of both district and new roads, and minor contributions in connection with drainage operations which at present are not completed. . Wirokino. —The receipts in this Riding amount to £7420 which includes refunds amounting to £2242, comprising £lOl4 repayment of advances to Loan Accounts, £698 for main highways maintenance, and £530 sundry refunds for metalling and drainage, etc. The expenditure side shows that a total, of £7841 was spent in the Riding, consisting of £5502 expended on wages, metalling, timber, blacksmith’s work, boundary roads and sundries. Advances to i loans and expenditure on Kawiu-Foxton , lioad grant amount to £1054, leaving a balance of £1285 being share of machinery and plant, working account, and antecedent liability repayment and interest. The year ends 'with a debit balance of £420, for which general rate arrears amounting to approximately £9OO are a set off. Considering the extent of this Riding and the increasing cost year by year on the maintenance of additional new roads and the upkeep of a considerable length of main highway, the expenditure should. compare very favourably with most Ridings of its size and situation in the Dominion. The general rate struck for the year was 7-8 d in the £.

Otaki.—This Riding brought forward a credit balance of £720 to which has been added during the year refunds from advance to Waikawa South Road loan (£105), main highways maintenance (£155), boundary roads (£l7), share of general revenue (£1911), making the total receipts £2908. On the expenditure side it will be seen that £IBO9 was spent on metalling and wages and sundry Riding charges, advances to loan, water race and grant accounts amount to £229, which together with share of machinery and plant working account and antecedent liability repayment and interest (£154) makes the total expenditure £2192. The year therefore closes with a credit balance of £715. The general rate struck was 5-8 d in the £.

To Horo. —This Riding commenced the year with a credit balance brought forward of £IO2O. The receipts for the year amount to £2846 and include refunds for main highways maintenance £466, metalling and sundries £32 and share of general revenue £2348, making a total of £3866 for the year. On the expenditure side it will be seen that £2951 has been spent on metalling, wages, boundary roads and sundries, share of machinery and plant working account £256, and share of antecedent liability repayment and interest £165, making a total of £3370 expended during the year. The account'therefore closes the year with a credit balance of £495. The general rate struck for the year was 7-Sd in the £. Separate Accounts.

Horowhcnua Wjater Race Miaintenance.—During the year an expenditure of £519 was made for which rates amounting to £SOO have been received, leaving a debit balance of £l9 on the year’s working which is covered by arrears of rates. This is fairly satisfactory, considering the special works which have been undertaken during the period. Hautere Water Race Maintenance.— The expenditure on this account for

the year amounted to £lO2 and receipts to £53, leaving a debit balance of £49. . In the past a transfer has been, made to the Te Horo Riding account of the deficit at the end of the year; this coiirse has not, however, been followed for the past two years. An endeavour will be made during the coming year to revise the district with a view to additional rates being collected from property at present not contributing to the maintenance of the races. Manga ore Stream Embankment Special Works Rate.—This rate which the Council undertook to collect to provide £3OO in two yearly instalments for the ' embanking of the Mangaore Stream, returned during the year £123 of the £l5O paid to the Public Works Department. The balance of £27 is covered by outstanding rates. New Districts.— During the year petitions were received for the levying ox maintenance rates over the Waikawa and Te Manuao districts in the Otaki Riding with the result that the constitution of these districts is to be pro-1 eceded with. Special Loans.— Notwithstanding the heavy demands on the State Advances office the Council received during the year special loans as under: Waikawa South Road, £1000; Tiro Tiro and Mako Mako Roads Water Supply, £800; Waithe previous year. Assisted .by refunds on account of main highways additional special districts were also formed but were held up pending consideration by the State Advances office. County Fund Account with the Bank of New Zealand.—The year closed with a credit balance of £4534 19s 6d. The amount of interest paid on overdraft was £63 17s 6d, being an increase of £52 12s on the previous year, this being largely due to advances made to loan accounts. Office Staff.—ln accordance with the development of the County and the enactment of new provisions and regulations affecting local bodies, the work of the office ha s maintained during the year' the steady increase which has been noticeable during the past few years. I therefore, in conclusion, desire to sincerely acknowledge the loyal and willing assistance rendered by the office staff, and my appreciation of the cor; dial co-operation of the County Engineer.” In moving the adoption of the Treasurer’s report, the chairman complimented the treasurer on his grasp of the County’s business and the lucid manner in which- he had set them out. It was pleasant to note that the affairs of the County were in a satisfactory , condition. Another thing they had to be thankful for was that the Bank charges were negligible. One of the difficulties in the past had been gthe heavy bank charges. At the present the small amount owing in this connection was mainly for advances to loan account. The chairman sounded „ a note of warning in regard to the 1 feeling that was current in some, quarters that the rates should be reduced. The County was going to enter on heavy expenditure in connection with the main highways scheme, and until they knew just how it was going to turn out, they should be careful to be on the right side in regard to finance. If by the end of the year they were on the right side they then could reduce the rates. In connection with the progress of the main highways scheme, this had been held up for twelve months owing to there being no machinery on the Statute Book for the raising of the necessary money. It was hoped that the work would be got in hand almost immediately. It would be readily understood that there would be considerable work to do before the surfacing

began. A special meeting of the Council had been held recently and tenders for machinery opened, with the result that one had been accepted amounting to £8696; this machinery comprising three trucks, two lorries, one large crusher and chip machine and one small crusher. It was the intention to raise a loan of £12,000 for machinery, and arrangements had been made to repay £SOOO in five years, and the remaining £7OOO in twelve years. A provision of £IOOO per year above interest would be made for the purpose of paying off this loan. , The chairman drew particular attention to the unsatisfactory means of raising main highways finance and urged that pressure on the Government; be continued with the idea of getting them to take up a national scheme of finance, so that the different local bodies would not be competing one against the other on the money market.

(Referring to the Shannon bridge, he said that it was hoped that a new bridge across the Manawatu would be commenced before the end of the year. The County had a duty to the residents of the district in this respect and should make it their particular' concern. The Waihoanga bridge would also have to be erected.

During the year the County had been connected ,up with the electric current from Mangahao and he was pleased to state that everything was satisfactory. The chairman paid a tribute of appreciation to the help given to the County during the year by the Public Works Department. There had been considerable trouble during that time from flood and owing to the railway strike. It was certain that if the County did a fair thing by the Public Works Department, they would get a fair deal in return. In conclusion he wished to thank the members of the Council,'and the staff for the excellent service they had given during the year, both to him and the County. To the Press also he returned thanks for tlie assistance always given to County

affairs. Cr. Harkness, in seconding the adoption of the report, drew attention to the steady growth of the County. The Wirokino County, with a revenue of over £7OOO, was equal to a small County in itself. He agreed with the chairman that it was not advisable to reduce rates at the present juncture. Every-* one would like to see x-ates brought down but at present with the main highways scheme coming on it was not well to* do so. Cr. Ryder said that the chairman had put things in so lucid a manner that that there was not much to say. It was a pleasure to come to a meet-

ing and to have such a splendid report as that of the treasurer's put before them. Mr. Hudson was a young man and that he should have, in his second year only as treasurer, displayed such an able grasp of the situation was refreshing. Or. Catley congratulated the chairman oh the able manner in which be had carried out his duties as chairman. It was a pleasure to serve on the Council under Cr. Monk and it must be very helpful to the staff also to have such able control. He endorsed what had been said regarding the treasurer's report. Mr. Hudson was doing very well, and would do better in the future, and the County could congratulate themselves in having obtained the services of a good man. Cr. Catley drew attention to the fact that the Wirokino Biding was the only one which was in debit. It looked as if the Wirokino Riding must be-the milch cow for the remainder of the County, since this was so. (Laughter). The chairman contended that the heavy expenditure had been reflected in a better condition of the roads in Wirokino than 'elsewhere. Regarding the main highways scheme he would like to see the construction work done by contract, or at any rate have tenders called for the doing of the work by contract, so , that comparisons of cost might be made. Cr. Harkness stated that taking into account the £9OO of outstanding rates which were easily recoverable, the Wirokino Riding had actually a credit of over £2OO.

Gr. Broadbelt also spoke in congratulation'of the chairman’s and treasurer ’s reports. Referring to the County generally he contended that the condition of the roads in the County were 50 per cent better than they had been ten years hgo. The main road was certainly not all it should be, and it was absolutely necessary that the main highways scheme be got into order as quickly as possible. He was pleased to report that the Commission which had sat to consider the question of the Horowhenua Lake had recommended the formation of a Drainage Board. It looked as if the County would come better out of the business than had been expected. He wished to return thanks for the willing assistance given him at all times by the engineers and members of the staff. Cr. Ryder endorsed the principle of contracting advocated by Cr. Catley. Cr. Whyte said that in the Tokomaru Riding there would probably have to be an increase of rates rather than a

reduction, despite the fact that there was a heavy credit balance. The balance was brought about by the fact that a considerable amount of works in the Riding had been deferred, mostly on account of the operations of the Makcrua Drainage Board. There were also about six miles of roads to be constructed in the Makerua swamp, which wbuld consume a lot of maney, as would also the bridge necessary. The chairman thanked Crs. for their remarks concerning his work for the County. Regarding the principle of contracting versus day labour he stated that the Council was not in a position to say how the work should be done until the plans were submitted by the ’engineer. When these were considered they could go into the question of whether part of this might be done by contract. He instanced the construction of the Hutt Road where £30,000 had b’een saved by doing the work by day labour. The Pipitea wharf was another instance of successful day labour. At the same time if he was in the chair, when the plans came up for consideration he would submit the question to the Council as to what form of labour should be used in the construction work. He thought it would be agreed that the paving could be best done by day labour. The report was adopted.