Electors meeting 1925
The annual electors meeting has been a part of local government since its inception in this state. It is the one meeting where ratepayers could find out what was happening through the road board (later shire council). It was also an opportunity for people to have their say about what they wanted to see happen within their community or to ask questions about what was happening.
Today, the importance of the Electors Meeting (or Ratepayers Meeting) has lessened somewhat as all Council meetings are open to the public with time allowed for public question time.
Below is a report from the Katanning Road Board‘s 1925 electors meeting as reported in the Southern Districts Advocate, a newspaper based in Katanning and circulating throughout the region.
The Annual Reckoning
THE DISTRICT’S PROGRESS
BIG PROJECTS DEALT WITH
Southern Districts Advocate
23 March, 1925
The annual meeting of rate payers in the Katanning road board was called for Thursday evening last at the supper room of the town hall, and the gathering was very representative of the town, with a few from outside wards.
Mr W. J. Rogers
Chairman of the Board 1925
Mr W. J. Rogers (chairman of road board) occupied the chair, and there were also with him members R. L. Richardson, W. P. Bird, A. Prosser, G. McLeod, and C. R. Harris. After the usual routine business, the chairman’s report, which was most comprehensive and covered all matters of any import, was read. This was as under:
Chairman’s Report.
“It is again my privilege and pleasure to report to you concerning the work of the Board since your last annual meeting. As will be seen from this and the Auditor’s Report during the past year a considerable amount of work has been done, progress made, your affairs generally placed on a better footing, and revenue received well spent and in view of this activity it is only to be expected that there would be some criticism and suggestions as to the work of the Board.
There is, and always must be, a lot that cannot be accomplished, and I think the Board’s service must not be judged by what has not been done but rather by what has been accomplished. It may be that our roads leave much to be desired; still we contend they compare very favourably with those of other districts. However, constructive criticism is always welcome and helpful to the Board indicating as it does the trend of public thought in regard to local government matters.
Recent reference has been made to the proposals submitted at your last annual meeting. The main questions then raised were: – Electric Lighting, the New Hospital, Extension of Town Hall, Public Sale Yards, and the Water Service. Every one of these matters has received a great deal of attention at the hands of the Board since then and though two only of the main items then discussed have been brought to finality; namely the Electric Lighting and the New Hospital, a brief explanation of the position, in regard to the other matters will convince you that they have not been overlooked and that these problems are not so ready of solution as they appear to be at first hand.
I propose to deal with them in their order: –
Electric Lighting: This matter has had a great amount of consideration by the Board, a recommendation to a special ratepayers’ meeting was made, and the matter has now been finalised by an undertaking being given by the Board to Messrs. Piesse that they will not exercise their right to take over the plant for ten years, on this understanding an approved new schedule of rates for current takes effect immediately; this schedule to be subject to reconsideration by the Board at the end of five years. Under the circumstances I feel sure the best in the interest of the ratepayers has been done in this matter.
Hospital: Progress in regard to the building of the New Hospital has been rapid, and on the whole, gratifying. Negotiations for the purchase of the Hospital site were concluded only just twelve months ago and it is hoped that an official opening will take place shortly. There have been some small questions in dispute, but these have all so far been satisfactorily arranged and when completed the institution will be one of the best in the State.
Town Hall: The question of the extension of the Town Hall has been discussed and suggestions considered, but each time the question of the cost has been a hindrance to any definite action. Quite recently a fresh suggestion was made to the Board that I think is worthy of consideration and I hope the Board may be able to see its way to some definite action in the very near future!
Sale Yards: This matter was very thoroughly gone into although there was apathy in some quarters, the contention being that it was the business of private concerns interested rather than the Board to arrange.
The result of the investigations showed that the required outlay was too great; the Railway Department wanting £2,600 for putting in the siding and trucking yards, whilst in addition to this there would be the land to acquire and the yards to erect. The Board endeavoured to get the Railway to alter and amend their conditions, but as this was refused, the proposal was definitely turned down as impracticable.
Water Scheme: This matter has been taken up with the Public Works Department, and on two occasions engineers have been sent down and taken round the district for inspections, reports, and advice. Finally the Board was advised that the Government had no money, and that the town has a water scheme (acknowledged more or less satisfactory) the concern of the Government is more in favour of such districts as have no water scheme at all. Consideration was given to the reports and advice and the only scheme which promised satisfaction was a fresh dam to be put down north of Katanning between Oxley and Kelly Road; some ten miles distant.
The estimated cost of which would be approximately £30,000 to £40,000. Here again the expenditure was the bar to any definite action, and the matter was deferred to some more opportune time for consideration. In connection with the water service the Board approached Messrs. Piesse with a view to the purchase of their dam as a supplementary service, but the price and conditions were so unreasonable that the matter was not entertained.
Finance: The question of finance is always an important one, but in this case the Government Auditor’s Report deals at such length with the subject that there is little left for me to comment upon. The financial year under review, closed with credit balances at the Westralian Bank of £208/5/8 on your general account, and £831/8/11 on your Water Board account. The Hospital Building fund reserve at the close of the financial year stood at £187/14/0.
Rates collected to 31st December last, and interest earned on fixed deposit increased this reserve to £338/13/11, which amount is available out of which to meet the Board’s first payment of subsidy to the New Hospital. In connection with the Water Board at the end of the year the reserve for depreciation on wood main stood at £750, and investments at £986/11/10, whilst the liability for interest and sinking fund on debentures was £1,337/11/1. This has since been met and the credit balance on current account at the end of last month was £467/10/4. The present system of a monthly audit of the Board’s accounts is working very satisfactorily and the audited monthly statement keeps the Board in close touch with its financial affairs.
Works: During the year the main works carried out were approximately: Forming, 23 1/2 miles; gravelling, 2 1/2 miles; clearing, 11 1/2 miles; fords, 16; culverts, 30; bridges, 2; whilst at least 40 miles of reconditioning of formation was done including the whole of last year’s and this year’s forming, some of which was gone over several times. There have been from time to time suggestions put forward for the raising of a loan to be spent on necessary works.
It is within the knowledge of some where a loan has been obtained and then frittered away without permanently good results. The only thing afterward remaining being regret and the responsibility of finding the interest and sinking fund from year to year. I would only approve of a loan for a definite concrete scheme to be properly carried out and to result in an equivalent asset for the annual rate to be levied.
Charges for the hire of the Town Hall have been revised, and a schedule which should bring in increased revenue has been adopted to take effect from March 1st this year. The rates will favourably compare with those for similar halls in other towns.
The members of the Board put in a lot of time revising the valuation of town properties, acting on the principal of reducing valuation and increasing rate. There were a number of appeals which were heard by the Board sitting as an Appeal Court, and results not being considered satisfactory the ratepayers concerned appealed to the Local Court with the unfortunate result of verdict against the Board on thirty properties out of thirty five submitted.
Previous to the Court’s decision members of the Board recently met Mr. Black, Commissioner of Taxation, and Mr. Campbell, Chief Valuator, and fully discussed taxation and valuation matters with them, and arrangements have been made for the Taxation Department to furnish the Board with their valuation of the whole district, with a view to adoption, giving uniformity and the Taxation Department to assist in case of any appeals.
Under the Federal Grant two roads have been attended to during the year. The P.W.D. sent men and plant to work on Marracoonda (Quartermaine Road), with the result a good road has been made for ten miles out west, this ranks as a feeder road to the Great Southern Railway. For the other road, Rockwell-Coyrecup, the Board tendered for this work, and secured the contract amounting to £905. This work has been almost finished, giving over four miles of really good road, and the Supervisor is to be commended for the excellent work done.
Ford on Broomehill Road. Several efforts have been made to get the P.W.D. to share the cost of this, and there is now submitted to the Department a plan and specification of the work, with a price, asking that the work be carried out on £ for £ basis. It is hoped that it will be possible to have this done before the middle of winter.
Fire Brigade: A request was made to the Water Board for a service plug to be laid down in the Recreation Ground for brigade practice. The cost of this was found to be £63 and the Board considered they were not justified in going to that expenditure. A proposal has since been before the Board to tap the Main at the Show Ground, this would entail a much less expense and is receiving consideration.
Transport: The Board at their last meeting decided to get quotations for a motor truck with view to procuring a ton truck for service of the Board. This matter will be given consideration at their next meeting.
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