CITY FINANCES.

Auckland Star, Issue 123, 24 May 1919, Page 11

CITY FINANCES.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Your loading article on the above subject was thoroughly justified, and undoubtedly expressed the feelings and opinions of ratepayers generally. It appears to mc very probable that" had ratepayers known prior to the recent Council election that the finances reqfiired additional rates, there would have been many more changes in the personnel of the Council. The tremendous debit in the lAnzac Avenue account over the estimate; the absolute failure of the predicted ''large" revenue from the sale of Anzac Avenue sections; the unsatisfactory character of the Xihotupu waterworks account (the liability of which the Mayor states cannot 'be '•exactly determined") ; the running of the fish market at a loss, with no appreciable difference in the price of fish; the unsatisfactory condition of most of the streets; the inadequate water supply; the poor lighting in many parts of the city; the extravagant expenditure upon parks, reserves, etc.—all these deserve scathing criticism, especially at such times as those through which we have been, and are still, passing. In spite of repeated warnings by leading financial authorities as to the absolute necessity for rigid economy in national, municipal, and domestic affairs, and in spite also of the city's unsatisfactory financial position, the Council continues to plunge, headlong into unnecessary schemes and expenditure, with an utter disregard of the ratepayers or of the day of reckoning that always follows such "plunging." The continual cry of the official octopus is, "More loans, more rates!" and the councillors offer little or no criticism. It's the same old story—so easy to spend public money. These continual increases in rates (and alternately in valuations) are proving a heavy burden to those who have to "pay the piper" for the official music. The city rates, including water, now total over 4/ in the pound, an increase of 9d in the pound during the past few years. What they will amount to j after a few more years of the present system of expenditure in the sacred name of Progress none can tell: but there can be little doubt that if the Council does not "pull up" and put the brake on, property will scarcely be worth owning for letting, selling, or any other purpose. The owner of a £500 house is now paying IG/ to 20/ per week perpetually on his home. What encouragement is there In all this for people to procure their own homes, or for investors to build for letting or selling purposes? The Government and the City Council profess great concern for the workers in regard to house accommodation, but their actions in many ways belie their words. The ever-growing demands made upon taxpayers to support a huge, ever-increasing officialism, and the utter failure of the Government and municipal bodies to encourage and practise reasonable economy, and to avoid all unnecessary works, also the failure of the Government to deal with exploiting syndicates and combines in the matter of food, building materials, clothing, and numerous other necessaries of life, are doing more to reduce production, discourage thrift, clog the wheels of industry, and stifle individuality than any other forces in the Dominion. The Mayor, sounding a note of warning, states that unless the financial position is "carefully handled" it will become a serious one for the Council. The position is already a very serious one for the ratepayers, and if all the loans and additional rates that are now being brought j forward come into force the position for . both Council and ratepayers will be one demanding something far more drastic than mere talk. —1 am, etc., OVER-TAXED.