RATES AGAIN REDUCED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1932, Page 10

RATES AGAIN REDUCED.

DEVONPORT BOROUGH. COUNCIL ADOPTS ESTIMATES. Referring to the estimates for the year 1932-33 at last night's meeting of the Devonport Borough Council, the treasurer, Mr. A. 12. Wilson, said that over 50 per cent of the ratepayers availed themselves of the 5 per cent rebate on rates. The general account began the year with a debit balance of £3073. After providing for all standing charges the draft estimates allowed £8118 for public works allocations, general and relief works, on which the actual expenditure last year was £12,132. A sunt of £3500 would be available on general public works and relief works for tools, insurance, materials and cartage. In general the estimates had been based on the assumption that approximately 40 per cent of arrears of rates would be received during the year, and that 75 per cent of the current year's rates would he paid during the financial year. If these figures were exceeded Mr. Wilson suggested that the excess be devoted to reduction of overdraft rather than to additional expenditure.

The finance committee recommended that the rates on the unimproved value be reduced by one-eighth of a penny in the £, making this year's total Cjjd. A further recommendation was made that tho amount allocated for unemployment relief bo limited to £1500; that the band subsidy of £25 be eliminated; and that the grants to the Devonport Library be adjusted to £95. The suggestion made by several local bodies for the postponement of payment of sinking and interest funds for two or three years was commended. If authorised, this would provide temporary relief to Devonport ratepayers to the extent of 3d in the £.

The Mayor, Mr. H. P. W. Meikle said it was apparent that if defaulting ratepayers had paid up to the tune of some £4000 the rates could have been reduced by Jd. He hoped for better times, ao that there could be a further reduction next year. Tho present reduction wa3 the second in two years.

The recommendations of the committee were adopted.