NEW LYNN BOROUGH RATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 201, 26 August 1930, Page 5

NEW LYNN BOROUGH RATES.

NO INCREASE THIS YEAR,

ADMINISTRATIVE ECONOMIES

By reducing staff in all departments and making other administrative economies the New Lynn Borough Council has been able to avoid an increase in rating this vear.

The Acting-Mayor, Mr. George Lawson, at the Borough Council meeting last evening, moved the striking of the following rates:—Antecedent liability loan, 5-64 d; special reserves, 3-32 d; water reticulation, 1 3-16 d; footpath formation, 0-64 d; main highways, 9-16 d; street improvements, 13-32 d"; sewer drainage, 52d. Kelston area, special rate of 2 1-Sd Water rates: Ordinary supply, upon all lands_ and buildings i,o which water is supplied (except supplies by meter), 4d in the £ on the unimproved ratable value; a minimum charge of 10/. Nonconsumers: Upon all lands and buildings | to which water can be but is not supplied, situate within 100 yards from any part of the waterworks, a rate of Id on the unimproved ratable value, with a minimum charge of 5/. Mr. Lawson pointed out that the rates consolidated amounted to 1/ in the £ on the unimproved value, the same as last year. This had only been made possible by reducing the general rate from 4 13-16 d to 2 5-Ifld in the.f, the lowest struck since the adoption of rating on the unimproved value. Administration costs had been cut down severely, and the council had reluctantly been compelled to reduce staff in all departments. It was necessary this year to provide interest and sinking fund on the full amount of the sewerage loan, for which a rate of sfd in the £ was required. . council had hoped to be in a position to reduce the water rate, but this had been found impossible. The water account still showed a heavy deficit, and it appeared that the only way to effect an improvement would be by metering the whole of the borough. °