COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

Shannon News, 17 July 1925, Page 3

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

IS THE COST UNDULY HIGH?

i At Saturday's meeting of the Horowhenua County Council a letter was received from the President of the New Zealand Counties. Association pointing out that the statement was neing made that the cost of administration of County Councils, was extravagant, and an effort was being made by the Motor Associations to seek the appointment of a commission of enquiry. The writer believed that the percentage of administrative cost was

apparently high, becajuse in many counties items were wrongly charged to administration that did not really belong to that account. An illustration was given where £4OO legal expenses had been charged to management, thereby giving quite a wrong percentage of management costs, tie

asked for certain information, that would enable the' relation of adiiiinistrative cost to revenue to he ascertained. The Chairman m/oyed that the information b£ supplied. A move had heen made by certain people in Wellington who said that County admintration wag much too high, averaging \) per cent, of receipts, as against 5 per cent, in the Public Works Department. He believed the idea was j that there should dbe larger local |

bodies or that the Counties be mer--1 ged into some other conncexn. He nad gone into the position of the Horowhen.ua County with the Clerk, and found that there were certain matters that, in accordance with the Government schedule had been retained under the administrati/ve heading which should properly be charged to and not management. There was insurance for instance £IBB. What was really wanted was a new form. The present form was filled and sent to'the Government, who published the percentage in the statistics, and the Automobile Association, who were moving in the . matter simply took it from the book. "We don't mind this criticism a scrap," said the chairman. Jn answer tb Cr. Catley. The chairman said the Hoiowhenua County's percentage of administrative cost to rates was given at 9.11. The Boroughs were comparatively low be- ; cause their areas were compact. - Cr; Catley said some of the County percentages went up tcy 34 per cent, and the Rangitikei County was down as low as 34 per cent.

The Chairman; Yes, but we don't know how their return was filled in. Cr. Catley considered such criticism should not be stifled. These were times when the strictest economy was necessary and -prodigality of expenditure should 'be prevented. He would even ask the critics to go further and show where savings \could be made. The Clerk said it would happen that a low-rated Copnty would show a high percentage of administrative charges to revenue and a county with high rates and bigger revenue com" out with a low percentage.