CITY ESTIMATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 99, 28 April 1922, Page 7

CITY ESTIMATES.

WORKS FOR ENSUING YEAR. KATES TO REMAIN TJNALTESED. & STATK.MEXT BY THE MAYOR. I '■ The "Mayor subrniUed to the City Council la.-t evening the esiimates for ihc eominjr year. At M.-irch 111. 1921, the ;ornl liabilities of the city were 114.11:1,----00o. and the total assets, including sinking funds in connection with various loans are calculated at £.1.230,827. The Mayor pointed out that the valuations on property are not made by the council, nor had the council any responsibility therefor. Under the Rating a\ct, 1908, certain statutory duties were cast upon the council, such ad the appointment of valuers, whose duties were clearly defined by statute, and whose valuation work was outside the jurisdiction of the council. The annual ratable value of the city, in 1921-:!-! was £1,497.120, and for the coming year it was fixed at £1.591,5-20, "tiu" increase being chiefly due to new buildings. The capital value of the city -j,cording to Government valuations was £22,045,077. The percentage of increase in city rate- since 1915 is given as follows:—1910. 1917. lfilS, 13.5; 1919, 17.5; 1920. 15.9: 1921. 1922, 27.2. With regard to both tiie Hospital and Charitable Aid and the drainage rates the council had no power in determining the assessments, it being its duty to collect- a sufficient sum. In regard to general, library and sanitation rates, the amount required was determined by the council's operations. The council, having regard to the economic conditions throughout, the war period and afterwards, also to the steadily increasing cost of labour, materials, etc.. had exer-erc-.sed the closest economy consistent with due progress. When it was -pointed our that the Uovcrnment two years ago considered it necessary to raise the statutory limit of the general rote to 2'o. it would be realised that the council's general rate of 1/10 was well within the mark. The general rate vans raised last ye-ir from 1/01 to 1 'in. The increase was due to the fact that the council t\as feeling the strain of higher wages nnd increased prices for materials; also to the fact that the annual transfer from water account was reduced from £20,(10(1 to £10.000. The estimates provide for no inercafe in the rate this Tear. THE CITY LOAXS. During the current year the council has to meet a maturing loan of £ 10,000. and in the next four years "amounts mature total £119,750. The 'Mayor gave details of the unissued "balances of the corporation's loan, and •stated that of the half-million loan ,£400,000 was issued in London, but it was not proposed at present to recomnxmd the issue of the balance, which was for Extensions of tramways, also for drainage works, etc. The loan was sold at '£94, and if it had not then been raised the city streets and drainage loan works would have been suspended. His Worship said there would be no increase in the rates, the total according to the estimates being .1/11. During the year constant supervision was exercised mi nil accounts, and though the council, /or financial reasons, had not .accomplished all it designed, essential services had :been well 'maintained. The general account for the veaT ending; March 31, 1023, was estimated to show a credit balance of £8,117. Regarding public health and sanitation, the amount provided was in excess of the expenditure of previous years. It was felt that any reduction in the votes should not apply to matters connected with -the »>ublic health and sanitation. The vote ■allocated to the public works last year was £ 95,000 and £ 12.000 for special ivorks. The actual expenditure under all headings was £86,3!5. excluding Jaths. The amount included this year I was £95.000 and £5000 for special ivorks. The outlay on -paTks and reserves ■was closely confined to the esti- i ■mates, and subsequent authorities. The best possible had :bcen done with the cnoney available, and in view of financial necessities, no increased vote could be provided this year. THE XIHOTUPU DAM. In connection with the water account, the credit balance brought forward was £56,480. It was expected the Nihotupu •impoundin 2 dam would be concluded during the current year or brought to a point -where its effectiveness for storage purposes for which it was designed, will be fully availed of. It is estimated after making provision for the sum required -for the dam, there will be a credit 'balance of £5,117 at March '31, 1923. The council may expect hereafter a credit balance on this account. The total cost of the dam was estimated at £197,000. The auxiliary darn was completed at a cost of £14,769. The next'instalment of the city water development scheme in the Waitakere ranges, in accordance with the .policy, proposed, would be undertaken in the 1 'Huia Valley. Following the isit of the council in November last, the en-j gineer -was preparing proposals: but these at present need not be deemed of an urgent character. It to;, there-1 •fore, not proposed to ask the council to further consider this matter until the present works at Xihotupu were completed. Tiie object in bringing forward the question cf the Huia last year was accomplished, in as much as rpreliminary instruction.s had been issued in regard thereto and preparatory work was being done. Regarding the sanitation rate to meet the cost of collection of garbage audi house refuse, his Worship said that did | not relate to the vote for public health and sanitation, which represented a sep-! arate activity. The work had greatly! increased, and the halfpenn.v taken of! the hospital and charitable rate had been) added to meet the extra cost 'of tht extended services now provided. The special Tate for interest account had a good credit balance, and not withstand»ng increased obligations -would provide the necessary money in the account. | which should have a credit balance of '£2,098 in March next. The Hospital and Charitable Aid rate had been decreased by a halfpenny. It was not proposed to increase, the Auckland and .Suburban Board drainage rate. The library rate ■n-as Mrnited W statute to one penny, and this with interest from bequests,! subscriptions, etc.. provided £9.683, j which enabled Toutine work to "be done.] hut left, nothing for extensions. Xewj library buildings are wanted at Parnell; and Grey Lynn. a nd further Art Gallery! Provision is also urgently required, but having regard to the different financial times these questions may lie left over, j , THE WATKUMETE CEMETERY. The Mayor referred to the fact that improvements at Waikumete Cemetery 1 ■""ere stopped, and the staff reduced in Accordance with the policy laid down by £he CounciL A neyr area oi 30 acre* of j

well as tormation of the soldier's portion at the north-eastern corner, where a dignified entrance had oeen provided. There wore several special votes in tbe estimates, including £3000 for the start of a superannuation fund for the atari. a„d £-2.300 for forest fcree planting. Ihc old City Markets were demolished at a cost of £505, and the material sold realised i 1471, leaving a credit of £900. that large area was now awaiting decision a 3 to its development. U will be i-ecomnicndcd for consideration of Council that the old buildings, or" which the leases expire shortly, should bo demolished. The work of widening (Juecn Street at this point could be put in 'hand in 192:!-2-i. That i would leave -a large open sire with a ! good frontage to Welleslcv and l.hieen i Streets. j Payment for the electricity concern | sold by the Council to the Power Board | under the Power Board Act, 1921, in I addition to the debentures which were no w being prepared, and which would be executed by the Board to the Council, would provide a substantial cash amount which was not vet definitely ascertained, but it would exceed £100,000. It was understood that the Power Board may avail itself of two years' credit: during that period the Council will be entitled to interest at the rale cf GA per cent per innum. It was recommended that the Council now resolve to pay both the interest and the principal sum when received to the City Sinking Fund Commissioner? for investment as sinking funds against such loans as the 'Council may later determine. This recommendation was submitted owing to the fact that there were a number of loans of past -years . with totally inadequate sinking funds. I These loans, -when they matured, would , create a difficult, financial position for | the Council. The recommendation submitted wa s designed to assist the , Council in connection with its finances in relation to these loans, and thus to strengthen its finances generally. COXCRETE ROADS. The Ma3-or referred to the policy of hiving down concrete roads. He said it might he stated with confidence that such roads for permanent way for modern traffic weTe satisfactory. It was expected the concreting of Kemuera Koad would be completed within a month, and in addition the two principal roads .upon which the council was engaged at present was the Great South Road to the Harp of Erin and the Epsom portion of Manukau Road, tinder the control of the Council. These two works should be completed within twelve months, when work would be Started on Great North Road. GTey Lynn, Albert Street, 'Federal Street. Victoria Street and L T pper Wyndham Street. The cost per mile of a concrete highway 40 feet wide, in 1915, was £13,000," whereas to-day it was £15,200. That merely included road work. A lot of work had heeii done on secondnry streets, and the tramway track had been greatly improved. There were still arrears of work to be undertaken, and several years would lapse before it could be claimed the tracks were inreally good order. The roading problem was one that for many years would tax the resources of the Council. Winh the growth of the city the provision at the city abattoirs was found inadequate, and consideraule enlargements thereto were now Tequired. Legislation of last session of Parliament authorised the Council to raise a loan of £7000 for this purpose, but with the increasing needs it was doubtful if this would bo sufficient. The. matter was now being reviewed by the committee, and proposals would be submitted to the Council nt an early date definitely dealing with proposed extensions to the abattoirs. Mr. Baiklon moved that the estimates bo adopted, and congratulated the Mayor on the manner in which they were placed before the council. Other councillors expressed a similar view, and the motion was carried. The tramway estimates will be considered at a special committee "meeting of the council, to be .held on Thursday evening.