THAMES FINANCES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 70, 24 March 1933, Page 3

THAMES FINANCES.

RATE THOUGHT TOO HIGH. REVISION OF ESTIMATES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) THAMES, this day. A meeting of the advisory and finance committee of the Thames Borough Council last evening voiced strong opposition to the striking of a rate of 2/6 in the £1 on the unimproved value. After considerable discussion it was decided that the commissioner, Mr. C. L. Grange, should reconsider the estimates for the year witli a view to reducing the rate. The neglect of the footpaths in Thames was objected to by Mr. C. S. Donovan, who moved that £500 for reconditioning them should be placed on the estimates. The motion wae withdrawn when Mr. Grange suggested that £1(50 extra should be allotted for footpaths. The Mayor, Mr. S. Ensor, eaid that the first thing to do was to "put their house in order," give reasonable facilities and not to incur further expense and thus increase the bank overdraft. The commissioner said the bank overdraft was now under JE4OOO, and the estimates were framed to bring the bank account in credit £261 at the end of the year. He explained that the bondholders had received 60 per cent of their interest for the year ending March 31, 1933, and any excess of collections in arrears of rates would pass into the borough's general account. For next year he had budgeted for 60 per cent of the rates being collected. He proposed a total general, water, and hospital rate amounting to 9.4 d, and special rates 20.6 d, a total of 2/6 in the £1 on the unimproved value. Mr. Grange said that revaluations and consequent reductions in value were making it more difficult for those who could not afford to offer their properties to the Government. He hoped to obtain a revaluation of the borough so as t.o get equitable rating, and he had brought the estimates down early in order to inaugurate monthly payment of rates.