ONEHUNGA CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 102, 2 May 1931, Page 10

ONEHUNGA CAMPAIGN.

MB. GREEK'S CANDIDATURE. ADMINISTEATIOX CRITICISED. Hie municipal campaign at Onehunga was continued last night, when Mr. J. E. Green, a candidate for the Mayoralty, delivered Ma inaugural address in tiie Foresters' Theatre. Mr. J. Park presided over a large attendance of ratepayers- | Mr. Green said the state of the i borough finances was disquieting. He felt it was his duty to tell the ratepayers what he had discovered -after a I careful inquiry. The most serious | item, in his opinion, was the non-pay- ! ment of the sinking fund instalments. On the last balance-sheet the AuditorGeneral stated: "The sinking fund instalments in respect of a number of loans are in arrears.^ Last March, continued Mr. Green, those arrears amounted to £7048'. Three loans would mature nest year, amounting to £6050. The accumulated ! sinking funds to meet these payments j was, on March 31, 1930, short by £3876, | and unless this amount of arrears i was reduced last year, the new council would have to face a serious problem. ' Mr. Green took exception to the council's method of presenting the 'balancesheet, as it was silent on the profit and loss account, neither did it contain any statement of assets and liabilities. According to the balance-sheet, the financial year closed with an overdraft j of £SOO. Since March 31 last, accounts amounting to £6275 had been passed for I payment. The council had spent | £14.213 ou roads, including £5153 on ) relief works- That was double the j amount of the estimate, and more than double the average year's expenditure. The sinking fund liability of £6273 and the present arrears showed a total indebtedness of £13,323. In addition to ordinary revenue • received from rates, said the speaker, the council had collected £2311 from heavy traffic fees and petrol tax. Seven vears ago the amount received under this head was £250. If elected, he would not try to borrow money for any purpose whatever. If further contributions were received from the Unemployment Board he would favour making improvements to reserves. As president of the Chamber, of Commerce, continued the speaker, he had, with the assistance of a special committee, been furthering the establishment of an industrial zone under the Town Planning Act on the foreshore of the Manukau from Onehunga to the Great South Road. This project offered a most promising outlook for the future prosperity of Onehunga and district. Six local bodies had agreed to the scheme, and all that was now t required to have the area gazetted was the formation of a regional planning committee. t In respect to the cost of hospital service and charitable aid, a reformation 1 in administration was necessary. One- c hnnsra's annual hospital levy had risen in the last six years from £1067 to s £369fi. a'n increase of 249 per cent. - Eight candidates for the Borough j Council, who are on Mr. Green's ticket, also addressed the meeting. r -