RAWENE RATEPAYERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 612, 14 March 1929, Page 7

RAWENE RATEPAYERS

A meeting of the ratepayers of the Rawene Riding took place at the Oue Public Hall on Monday. Mr. L. J. Brockliss presided. Mr. H. Cox addressed about 60 ratepayers on the methods adopted by the council, all of which, he said, tended to keep the rates up when reduction could be made. In connection with the Main Highways Board. he said they stepped in and reaped the benefit of what they had spent on the roads. whereas the Waitomo County, by waiting. received a 4 to 1 subsidy to proceed with certain roads. The countv had also purchased at much expense machinery, much of which was Unsuitable and had become obsolete. He said the cost of administration was heavy, and he asked the reason why Public tenders were not called for all Work. He strongly deprecated the delay in forwarding plans and specifications, thereby allowing grants to lapse. Air. Jackson said be thought all byroads should be constructed before the rates were reduced. Air. J. Q. Hives (riding member) said he was sure they would get something for main road loans. The affairs of the council were sound. He could make no Promise other than as soon as permissible the rates would be reduced. The cost nf administration was 3.54 per re nt. of expenditure, or 3.59 per cent, of revenue. In some counties it was 6.91 per rent. Mr. H. Pearson supported Mr. Jackson. A'r. 1-os thanked Mr. Hives for the information he had priven, and was firmly "Pinion that similar meetings would 60 much soyd. _