AFFAIRS OF COUNTY.

Shannon News, 7 May 1929, Page 3

AFFAIRS OF COUNTY.

NOW IN SOUND POSITION.

KETEOSPECTIVE ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN.

ALL RIDING ACCOUNTS IN

CREDIT

Comprehensive reviews by the County Treasurer (Mr F. H. Hudson) and the Engineer (Mr J. T. M. Brewster) were presented on Saturday to the Horowhenua County Council, at the last meeting of the 'Council's present term of office. The Treasurer's statement' showed that all the ridings were in credit, and that the total receipts from all sources were £68,167 and the total payments £60,700. The reports will be published as soon as space permits.

■ The Chairman (Mr G. A, .Youk), after congratulating the officers on their reports, took the -opportunity, of en- ' Wing on some feature? of the Council's work. During their terin ot office, he said, considerable activity had been displayed in .regard to Mam Highways construction, except lor :i (period last year when" the work was at a standstill owing to the Conned .-; negotiations for a higher subsidy. ;Over twelve months £.go it became apparent that the amount of their loan authority, on a £ for £ subsidy basis, was not going to complete the Highways in this County. In addition.there 'had been the problem of the effect, or the petrol tax, it being found that_ in many cases a higher subsidy was being given to those -local bodies who had not started their High ways as early as this Council had done.. The Council had found that they were penalised 'unless something weie done to assist; them. Negotiations went on for nine months, and they had only had three months of the financial year to carry put any work on the Highways. While he did not consider that the. result was quite fair, they had an arrangement for a subsidy of £3 for £1 for certain work, but a length of No. 60 Highway Avas left- without provision being made for it. In regard to that portion, the Council had asked that the Board'make a free grant or do the work itself, and the Council were of opinion that that work -should . be- completed. To arrive where they .had .expected when they commenced ithe scheme, the whole Highways work {should be completed. It should oe one 'of the firs; duties of the incoming (.Council to see that sufficient money ■was made available from the Board to carry thalt work 'into .effect. Even•supposing that the Board made a free grant, it would mean that the whole of the Highways work in the County had only benefitted to the ex tent of £2 to £l, which waa _ not an extravagant subsidy, considering theposition >as it was to-day. If the Council had had any idea that the Board was going to move as fast as i had done in regard to road construction, they would probably not have gone on with the work as soon as they did. Even though this matter was a costly one for the ratepayers of th\ 'County, he still thought that the activity which the Council had displayed was justified; and he felt that the Council and the general public would be with him in ths opinion that, if this work had not been under taken, the maintenance of No. 1 Highwaywould have been something with which the Council could not have coped. Considering the narrow road that had existed between Levin and Waikanae, it would have been quite impossible for it to take the traffic existing today. If that work had been don-: chiefly foe the travelling public, then the County,, was' entitled to very much more consideration than it had had. ANTECENDENT LIABILITY v OF HIGHWAYS. The Chairman added that he wanted to refer to the question of what was going to happen in future in regard t-i the antecendent liability which had (been raised for constructing the High ways in the County. The ratepayerhad been committed to something like £BO,OOO or £90,000 for Main Highway construction. Had the Council sat back and said they Avould not do any thing, a 3 some other local bodies had 'done, and received £3 or £4 for £L the liability that would be on their ratepayers to-day would be very much less than it was. In the very near future i!; appeared that* the Board would have to take into very sjrious consideration the assuming, of some 0? this liability, and thus putting thi.Council on a parallel with local bodies who were receiving a very much higher subsidy to-day. A good deal of "punch" had to be put into that agitation, because in three years' time; the position would be very unjust.

HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES. A matter of the utmost importance was the movement that existed to-day towauls the abolition or partial f.bolition of hea.vy traffic fees. It had been stated by a-Minister of the present Government that they had promised to carry into effect the reduction or abolition' of those fees, giving the excuse; that they had been imposed on the vehicles at a time when no petrol tax was in existence. . Local bodies such i>s this Council, which had gone in for a good roading scheme, should be very guarded in saying that what was suggested was. fair; he thought it was most tin just. The County had been given the heavy traffic fees partly as an incentive to carry out its work; it provided some money Avhich could be spent on their side roads. It was not only the main roading that was used for heavy traffic. While the County was getting a subsidy from the petrol fax for Main and subsidiary ihighways, it was not getting anything for heavy traffic except by direct taxation through heavy traffic fees to put on its side roads. The Counties' Association had taken the matter up, and

he thought that the Government's proposal was going to be very strenuously opposed; but- on looking at- the composition of the Transport Board, he could not but think that the motor in-terests-were very much in the ascend-■ ancy, and that the ratepayers who were providing the roads had not "much representation. There was only one representative ot: the counties of New Zaland; this was absolutly ridiculous, and an emphatic protest should ue made. Another, fact that the Government would have to consider Avas, that :f they were going to make it easier for the heavy traffic, they were going to make it harder for the railways; if the' heavy vehicles were put on "free of any license fee, thy would run the railways off. It was largely the Government's concern whether itwas, going to make it easier or for the railways, but if it was going to take £BOO a year from the County, it was an absolute breach of faith, unless the Government gave the C'junty something in place of this. SET-OFF TO BALANCES.*'

Coming to'the general finances of the CovAty, the chairman said they were in a fairly satisfactory condition. Some of the riding balances were very much better than Avas the case last year. He did not ivish councillors tc run aAvay with the idea, however, that because the bahncee happened to be a little better, the position- wa-3 any better as far as the County's assets were concerned. As a set-off, ther.e had probably been collected more of the outstanding rates that were used a? an asset lai-t year; and they could not be need as an £:sset this year, but only as a balance. The Treasurer had pointed out that the County was probably not yet bearing the full amount of its Highways interest; but as against that it had to.be remembered that,, for every mile of road thai Avas paved, the maintenance cost fell considerably and the County Avas getting £2 instead of 30s to £1 for maintenance —and he thought that, as this- went on, that subsidy would be increased. REVALUATION. The re-valuation or the County was taking place this year, the chairman continued;; he -supposed that they would "not know the effect of it till the County Avas completed and the assessments issued. Once that re-valuation came to hand, it would.make'an enormous amount of work for the office staff in the readjustment of rates for all parts of the County. All the special rales had to be re-adjusted, and that meant a great deal more work. SATISFACTORY FINANCING OF PLANT. The antecedent liability loan of £9OOO was getting Avell on and in another three years would be completely paid off—in fact, in another tAvo years, because they ; were paying early. He felt rather proud of the maChinery and plant working account. If the Council had done one good business action, it was the setting up of that account; but he thought that the motor cars, Avhich Avere not included in that account, should have a sum set aside each year, for replacement. This Avould be established out of the general fund, and when a new car Avas wanted, the Council Avould not have to make a.coll on the general revenue. The machinery was hired to whatever job it went to. The result of this system Avas that the Council had a balance in hand Avhich ensured that, if anything went wrong Avith a piece of machinery, they could replace it. It ensured the payment of interest and sinking fund on the machinery loan account. Ho felt that this Council's successors in years to come wotild be thankful that "the Council had established this account on a business-like method and that they had nothing to Avorry about. In other days loans had' beeii v raised and the machinery had been Avorn out, AA'hile the loan still had to be paid off. In this case, when the machinery Avas worn out the loan would be paid off, and probably tho Council would have established a fund .whereby they could replace the machinery. SHANNON-FOXTON HIGHWAY.

During the past year, the ShannonFox ton Highway had been opened again for vehicular traffic by the building of the Shannon biidge, and the pm;t had been done aAvay with. There had been great disability for that district, but it had been to the interests of the ratepayers there to put up with the inconvenience cf the punt, and uoav they had a very fine bridge open. Had the Council done as Avas suggested and repaired the old bridge—a course which he had opposed—he did not think they would have been any further ahead, but Avould still have had part of a bridge. They now had a more direct route to and from Shannon, by the iicav HighAvay, and ib Avould be of benefit to everybody concerned. ' He felt proud of the achievement, despite the temporary inconvenience. COMPLIMENTARY.

The chairman sincerely thanked the Comty Clerk for his support both during the past year and the Council's term of office,' Good work had been doi.e by the standing committees, more particularly the Works Coinmitte.j The creation of the latter was an idea for which the speaker had been responsible; and although that committee had not for a considerable time operated as the Council had desired, the result of their experience had been to make that committee operate in a manner which was quite business-like, and it had had the effect of getting things done. That had been brought about largely by the scheme introduced by the County Clerk of noting everything brought lief ore them and keeping it constantly before the committee until disposed of. Things had been referred to the committee and got rid of instead of coining up again in six, nine or twelve months. The chairman also mentioned the good work of the Finance Committee, and went on to say that, in addition to the loyal support he had had from the Council, that of the office staff and the engineering staff had been very valuable. The Icou'clurion ;of this

vcar's term of office was a very mucu happier one than that of last year, when things were in a particular state of flux. Affairs wore in a pretty good working condition uoav, and he had every reason to believe, from observation, that they would go en verv well in the future. He- made special reference to the. way in which matters on the engineering side were dispossd ot. It was very pleasing, after referring things to the engineering staff, to find that in a month's time they were disposed of—not forgotten. He thanked the Countv Engineer—Mr BreAvster—for having been able to carry tins out, and his experience of working with the Engineer was that he was acting for the good of the county. The ratepayers l-aliscd what a good ma.i the no'uneil had in their clerk. The speaker Iml had from Mr Hudson and his staff, and from the engineering start, the utmost loyalty, and they had been very helpful to him. He also wished to 'thank the Press for the publicity given to the affairs of the Council, and for the utmost fairness in giving that publicity. To the councillors who had been returned unopposed he offered his congratulations, and as to those who were to have a contest, he thought that; on the work thsy had done, they could go forth to that, contest wi'.h .the utmost confidence, and he wished 'them. luck. ' ■„„.,___-, COUNCILLORS' REMARKS Councillors then spoke, each _ congratulating tlio clerk and the Engineer on their rcrorts, and making allusion to various aspects of -the Council's work. ' r , , Cr. Ryder, chairman of the Works Committee, said that, , on the whole, councillors had been a happy ± unity. It was pleasing to look back on the year's work without any feelings 'that they might have done better. Cr. Catley said that the only question he viewed with any alarm was. What was the condition of the district roads, for which the riding accounts provided the maintenance? There were one or .two roads that were no. up to the standard he would like to see. The Council had to' take into consideration- the increase of traffic from year to year. The number or licenses for motor cars alone 1:1 the year ended March 31st, 1028, was 6» per cent, greater than in the previous year This Avould necessitate a greater effort to keep the roads up to a standard. He wished to refer to the four unmade roads for which requests had been made for their completion./ There was a practical proposition before the Council, and if re-elected he would do. his best to see that that . -proposition was put into executionThe riding member had been prnc.ically authorised to bring forward -a; scheme whereby those roads could- brconstructed; and he would take steps to see that that was done. _. Cr. Jensen said that what gave him moie concern than anything else was the statement made luring the receiu visit of the Highways Board, tnat it, had paid out three-quarters of a million in one month. If money and_ to ho found at that rate, then he tailed ; to «ce that there would be anything for this County, which was entitled to have its fair share of the money expended by the Board. In thc.fiarNorth there were perhaps thousands of miles where there was no money to - make a Highway, because the settlers nould not afford to raise their share. Those people were clamouring for tionalisation, and he thought thac thsu was the only remedy where peopie. could not make the roads. He re.t thy a great deal of the money collected in the better parts of the counties would have to be taken from tnose places and spent elsewhere. The -incoming Council would have to stand firm and use their best endeavours to get what, they were justly entitled to for the completion of the roads. 1was no use to sit back and say that, if the roads were not made, it might pay the Council better to raise another loan. In his opinion, Avhen this Council had expended the amount authorised through their loans*, they would have spent about £IO,OOO more than they should haA*e done. If the Board found that it could pay £3 to £l, surely the Countv should be entitled, at the verv least,'to have its roads completed," which/' cost nearer £2 than £3 m subsidy. Cr. 'Whyte said that the position shown in the Treasurer's report ap--pen red to him to be quite sound. It was pleasing to know that the two sections of higluvay at Tokomaru had been completed. The cost the first section Avas shoAvn as £3(56 below the estimate, but that Avould not be final. With regard to the Main llighavmvs construction loan, there a balance in hand at the end of tho financial year, of £B2IO, and a further sum of £9OOO had yet to be raised. These together made £17,210. The Government- subsidy on that, at £3 for £l, would be £51,630, giving a total of £08,840. It Avas interesting to note that the County's share of maintenance 'cf Nos. 1 and 00 Highways in the past tAvelve months Avas £1071) less than in the previous year. The riding accounts were all in satisfactory positions; for Tokomaru there Avas a credit balance of £2236. That riding had 110 AV the expense of a new bridge, and a good deal of the maintenance metal had been carted out. ■Cr. Kilsby said he Avould like to see, perhaps, not quite such a largo credit balance. Where lates were collected he Avould like to see them spent AA-ithin a reasonable amount of the credit balance,, instead of carrying a large sum forward each year. With respect to the Highways, -it was only right that the County should have the free grants that had been asked foi: to complete tin rxads. There Avere roads already made in this County Avhich Avere second to none in the Dominion. It Avould probably be fcund that their HighAvays were cheaply made in comparison with those in some other counties. Cr. Gimblett remaiked that one ot the most pressing subjects before the. Council Avas the prosecution of uncompleted portions of the Main

Highwav. Provision was made for all except those, and the Council would not be doing their duly unless they did all they could to secure a' free grant. Failing that, the Council muslin any case improve Law's Hill without .delay, as that was one of the worst pieces oi! road on this coast. lie had always opposed any reduction in the heavy traffic fees. With regard to unmetalled roads, these constituted one of Ihe biggest problems confronting the riding.' He had been criticised for recommending Gladstone Eoad .as a subsidiary Highway because he lived on that road. ' At a public meeting he would give his justification for thai action. 'The Council must get a bigger share of Hie petrol tax, for road maintenance.

Cr. Bryant said that the County was s in a far'better position than last year, and he thought, there was a very satisfactory year ahead.

Cr. "Ryde.- said that the Highways work which the Council had undertaken was unquestionably- good —an opinion whieh was borne out by people who had travelled about New Zealand. He did not think that the scheme had been started one lour too boon. If it had not been undertaken, the roads would now be in a deplorable state; the road between' Tc Iloro and Waikanao would have been totally incapable of carrying to-day's traffic. After the reports had been adopted, the chairman thanked the Council for the confidence placed in him as chairman over a good number of years. Mr Hudson, County Clerk, thanked the chairman and councillors for their expressions of appreciation, as also did Mr Brewster, County Engineer.