CITY AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 66, 19 March 1925, Page 13

CITY AFFAIRS.

DISCUSSED SY RATEPAYERS. CIVIC SQUARE SCHEME. At a meeting of the City West Ratepayers' Association held in Leys Institute, Councillor J. Allum gave a very interesting address on municipal matters generally. In the course of his remarks he said the council was like a board of directors in a company. All minor matters were settled by the council, but it could not raise money without reference to the ratepayers. He explained how the council did its work by various committees, and the duties they performed. The general policy pursued tame from the council itsell. He preferred not to say anything about, the Civic Square scheme, as the mayor would specially explain that matter to the ratepayers next month. He then went into statistics of the various rates produced, and declared that every revenue department paid its own interest. Councillor J. \V. Harillev said he had been closely allied with the markets, abattoirs, tire brigade, Leys Institute and drainage boards. He stated that the rates amounted to 3/10 in the f, and gave full details a≤ to how this amount was made up, and finally declared that the council had nothing to do with the valuation or the properties. The president (ilr. A. G. Jarrett) regretted that as chairman he was unable to criticise the remarks of the councillors. He said that the figures quoted by him at the last meeting , were not his own. but taken from the Council's Year Book, for 1924, for which the council itself was responsible, and he was prepared to give page and item showing the figures quoted. He appealed to the four councillors present to try and get an alternative scheme put on the voting paper, so that when the Civic Square scheme was turned down, it would obviate the necessity of another vote being taken. Mr. Henry Green quoted figuree from the Year Book, and said there was no depreciation for the tramway business. He asked what principle was acted upon. He explained the position of the tramway sinking fund, and stated that if the profit made the previous year had only been continued, it would be all right, but if not, it would be all wrong. He suggested that a chartered accountant should go into the principles of the Year Book, and not merely check the figures supplied, as he considered there were radical and unsound principles used in the production of the Year Book. The receipts from the Town Hall showed £1000 less than the expenditure.

Messrs. Parkinson, Taylor and Oliphant spoke on various matters. A vote of thanks to Councillors Alluni and Hardley was carried by acclamation.

In answer to a remark, the chairman stated that the association wa3 not criticising the council either individually or collectively, but was opposed to the Civic Square scheme in toto, and to the arbitrary manner in which the council had pulled down buildings, called for plans, and filled in foundations, without first obtaining a proper sanction from ratepayers. The payment of £1000 for the plans might be looked upon as "unauthorised expenditure." and as such be questioned by the Audit Department later on.