COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 218, 8 November 1900, Page 2

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

MR. HORROOK'S SOHKHH AMD

ARGUMENTS,

At the County Council meeting on Monday, Mr. Horrocks gave notice that he would, at the next meeting, more' the following(1) That it is desirable to do away with the tollg&te system as a mesne of collecting revenue, provided it can be shown that financial means can be devised whereby the roads and bridges cah be maintained in good repair without them. (2) That whereas, owing to increased revenue valuations, j |d rate equals £5,277 14s 6d, and revenue from other sources is estimated | to produce £956; without tolls, £6234 lis 7d; this Council is of opinion that providing the following policy is adopted, and the ratepayers are agreeable to assist in bringing about the matter, that the tolls could be abolished at the end of next financial year, viz., | March 31st, 1902, and the Council's! financial position placed on a seunder footing is the future, together with aj prospect of a reduction of rate in the | near future. (3) That a traction engine having been ordered at a large cost (£800) it is desirable to procure other up-to-date plant for the better and cheaper method of maintaining roads at a total cost of about £ISOO, especially in view of the dearness and scarcity of labour for hand broken stone, which before long will greatly enhance the cost of repairs. (4) That in order to pay for this outlay, and further reduce the overdraft, the tolls be collected up to March 31st, 1902, when they be abolished. That a |d rate be levied (to include the Hospital and Charitable Aid contribution). (5) That a |d rate alone be collected in the following year, and subsequently, until it is reduced. (6) That in January, 1901, a poll of ratepayers within the County be taken for the purpose of raising a loan of £IO,OOO under the Leans to Local Bodies Aot for the reconstruction, widening, or lengthening of bridges and culverts within the County, stone, concrete, and steel girders being used as much as possible, and that each ridiog shall have its share of the interest on the capital sum spent in each riding made a charge against its Account. The total interest required is LSOO per annum. (7) That no special rate be levied t3 pay off the loan, there being ample margin of revenue; in fact, £20,000 could be raised and stil a margin beyond probable requirements, ' (8) That whereas £3700 aas been the average cost of, or expenditure on roads for the last six years, i< is estimated that this sum is sufficient for the upkeep of roads, especially as the introduction of machinery will lessen she east. (9) That whereas a sum of £IO,OOO would be expended in bridges etc., during the next two or three years, and £5392 9s 2d has already been expended thereon during the last six years, an average ef £B9B 14s lOd yearly, it is clear that for many years to come no charge beyond for small repairs would be needed. In 26 years the loan would be paid off, and £SOO per annum freed for expenditure er reduction of rate, (10) That the revenue as shown is £6234 14s 6d. That the provision for expenditure would be —Roads, £3700; administration, £1000; Hospital and Charitable Aid contribution, £575; margin, £459 14s 6d; interest on £IO,OOO loan, £500—£6234 14s 6d. (12) That the average sum expended on bridges for six years, £9OO, represents the interest on £IB,OOO at 5 per cent,, and that an annual charge of £SOO is better, because, owing to heavy machinery for road repairing, many parts of the roads are inaccessible to it on account of rotten bridges. It is, therefore, better to repair and renew them at once, instead of over a long [ period even if the latter could be [done— and no big bridges could be reconstructed out of ordinary revenue without crippling finances. (13) That in view of the Counoii adopting this scheme the resolution, if carried, be printed end circulated throughout the country, and the ratepayers in eaoh riding be invited to attend a publio meeting in each riding to disousg the proposals, and ta pass resolutions for or against the same. (14) That should the ratepayers as a whole be favourable, that an expert bridge engineer's services be obtained, and that the county's bridges and culverts be thoroughly examined and reported on, and that an estimate be made of the cost of all-bridges and leuverts needing reconstruction, widen- j iog, or lengthening. First, those that should be reconstructed forthwith ; secondly, those that might last for three or four years, and should certainly be reconstructed within five years, &c. That, if necessary, in consequence of such a report, a smaller or larger sum than £IO,OOO be raised, but not to ex-' ceed £IB,OOO, which would mean an annual charge of £9OO, the same sum as has been expended on an average the last six years for bridge repairs, &c. (15) 'JLhat whoi'uuK £2OOO per annum is derived by letting lollgates, and it jean be assumed that at least £SOO is paid by the public iu excess of this to the collectors at sevon gates, it follows that the burden of £2500 or thereabouts (£2OOO of which alone goes on the roads) would be removed, if the tolls j were abolished. It is fair to assume | that the major portieu of this .sum is | paid by ratepayers ; even if lulf, s&.y \?#s paid by it wwuM

a heavier burden hau the difference between a two-thiulsof aponny rate and afd rate—viz, .£88610» fid, which, divided over the whole county, Would not come to much -one-twelfth of a penny in the pound more. In short, I take off £2500 and put on i>sß(i 10m Gd. (16) Provided the loan is cariied by the ratepayers, it will be the duty of couu-i cillors to strictly carry but the proposal, i add for ratepayers-to re-elect councillors who are pledged to support'it in < future. It ie ai well: to point out to ratepayers that the present Council j has the power next year to continue ' the tolls, levy a fill |d rate, and strike anil levy a Hospital ' and Charitable Aid rate; but it would be absurd to suppose that so .much taxaiiop would be imposed' withatit first ascertaining the fwjingsief tke ratepayers; h«nce, ahpd<hiotth 6 w sanc'tioned ratepayers He I 'carried out in all good faith ?