COUNTY FINANCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 153, 10 April 1933, Page 6

COUNTY FINANCE

Sir,—The County balance - sheet makes very interesting reading, and is apt to make one wonder how much more would have been saved if we unemployed had not been such a drag on its resources to the tune of £2,000. By the way, there is no mention of this item in the annual report.. The Relief expenditure of £19,900 is certainly a huge total. How much of this work would have been done by the Council if it had not been done by unemployed labour, and if they had done it. how much would the Council have been on the credit side of- the ledger at the end of the financial year? With your permission I would like to comment on some of the figures on Khe Relief expenditure, also the annual report on various accounts. For distance, take the figures for store yards, repairs and various works, £1422. This with the £2OOO would make very interesting i reading if the account was itemised. The amount is over £27 per week.

What was done for it? Various repairs certainly, but what was repaired, and for wjiom? The figures for the Ash burton bridge, £262, and dismantling the old bridge,' £553 are another interesting example of how the Council is showing a profit at the expense of the unemployed. When the tjnempioyed Act was first put in operation it was definitely de-

cided that everyone must work for his money, but work that would not otherwise' be done. The frst part is observed, but what about the second? Reading the expenditure on Relief, the Council's expenditure for maintenance must be infinitesimal. Rates outstanding are £2397 (15.28 per cent.) compared with £2740 (13.85 per cent.) How is it witli £348 less outstanding this year the percentage is higher? Oi course, being only an unemployed man I am not supposed to bo conversant with high finance, so am open to correction. Apparentlv it is above the di-g----nitv of the Council or Mr Kelly to reply to anonvmous correspondents. On the one hand we have the wealthiest County in New Zealand protesting about'paying for the transport and supervision of its account balancers, on the other the said account-balancers living in intolerable conditions. In i other words the £2OOO is wisely in-j I vested. 1 FIFTEEN. TWO.