County Rates.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7864, 5 July 1905, Page 4

County Rates.

DISCTSSIOX IX THK OH N-Cll.. Some discussion took place a'! tho I'aranaki Cotinly t'oum-jl meei ing " n Monday willi ivfercii:v to dilfuvutinl rutin!? for the three ridings. Cr. (ira.\ pointed mil that the Wail him ruling was in a good posilion and when flu- various accounts aviv adjusted would Iviv,. u good credit balance. Omatn riding was in a similar position, and ho thought,lioth would in a short period be in a position wh,en tile rate Could be rcdue■d from throe-fnr-tlmigs to a half-pen-nj in thf £. They were moiv favjour■d than Moa, as the- access was (>eiti'r and stone plviniful, while thuv.nl■lation had risen wry cuiisiricrubly. Of c'oni'sr if the Moo riding had 11111011 norc expensive roads to contend igninst, 111 j Council should continue ,1 rale there cmiivalenl to the re'Hiiienii'nts of that, district. He staled, however, that he woutd not prc-s th'- iiialt'r at present. No doubt ■ioni* of t'le preset* members woul ! not seek r.-c-Usjthon, and it would no\ ■>o lair to ask iho incoming Council lo administer affairs on a curtailed revenue. Cr. Andrews : A rate is. objectionable, but it is far heller t« pay a little mor ■ in tie .shape of rates and have the roads kept • in Hood repair. Cr. Hill thoiurht that the proceeds of a rale of Jd on the new valuation would almost e<|iiul the amount realised oM live Jd rate struck on the last valuation. The Chairman (Mr 11. Okey) was satisfied that Cr. firn.v was wise in not pressing, the mailer this year, lie had asked Cr. <!ray lo hold the proposal over, rather -than cut off (km revenue their successors would have, to spend. S„ ly.T as Onala .was on cerned he felt snlislio't' that the riding could go in for a reduced rale without interfering Willi the upkeep of iis roJids. Omnia ■would, wh-n 1 the bridge money was repaid, only lie If.! HI overdrawn at Ihe end of three months of the municipal year. but Ihore was Cliluil lo come to its civ dii. so that next \ear the riding would be in a position to have tin reduced rate if 'the Council desired. Waitara riding was also in a goul position, but in regard to Moa he did not think the Courted would be aide to go another year without increasing the rate to one penny. Whether Oinatu and YV-aUara should bear ' v'Te burden of the remaining riding was for the future Council to say. He thought it unfair for their revenue to be taken i'lto the Moa riding- He thought it unwise for the Council to reduce the revenue at present when (hey had a considerable overdraft. The matter was allowed to drop al this stage anil a motion by Hi* Chairman living, Ihe rale for Ihe Council at : Jd and the hospital r.ite at id. was enrried.