MT. ALBERT COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 103, 3 May 1935, Page 9

MT. ALBERT COUNCIL.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PLANS

REVIEW BY THE MAYOR.

Having been re-elected unopposed as Mayor of Mount Albert, Mr. R. Ferner appealed to the ratepayers, at a meeting at King George's Hall last evening, to support the candidates for the council who subscribed to his policy. Mr. T. B. Clay presided.

Mr. Ferner recalled that the principal planks in his platform when he was elected to the mayoralty in July, 1933, were:—The further consolidation of the borough finances, including the best possible conversion of the borough's capital indebtedness, with a definite undertaking that there would be no increase in the amount of money levied for rates; a constructive scheme for the restoration of employment on public works, designed to allow the forwarding of drainage and other public works with assistance from the Unemployment Board; and public works remaining uncompleted under the 1926 scheme were to be completed as soon as possible.

Mr. Ferner declared that the day of Mount Albert's financial emancipation was approaching, when the floating loan would disappear altogether, the State rates question would be settled, and the capital liability under the conversion scheme would be extinguished. He said that the scheme which Mount Albert had formulated and put into practice, of financing public works at standard rates of pay rather than under relief conditions, had become the rule rather than the exception in New Zealand. After outlining the progress of the negotiations with the City Council regarding amalgamation, Mr. Ferner said that he considered the question, if it

were again raised, would be one for the ratepayers, though he was of the opinion that nothing less than an unconditional amalgamation, with full protection for the borough employees, could be considered. Burden of Water Charges. Every effort had been made, said Mr. Ferner, to get relief from the burden of the heavy water charges. At present the council was charged 1/2 a thousand gallons, and charged the ratepayers 1/10 a thousand gallons, the difference beinpr necessary to cover the cost of social services. Although the indebtedness of the water account had been reduced from £3007 in 1930 to £•14 last year, the account would always be 111 a precarious position. The cost to the city was only 7d, but the city charged 1/2. Such a condition should not be

endured without the strongest protest. In the policy which he would place before the newly-elected council, the first part, said Mr. Ferner, would be to further consolidate the finances of the borough, and press for the conversion of the overseas indebtedness ot £130,000. Public works would be continued to the extent that this could be done without increasing the annual rating levy, especially and other works which would save maintenance, and works on subsidy from the Unemployment Board would be extended. Mr. Ferner said that he particularly intended to raise £20,000 at 3| per cent, this loan having already been arranged. The rate of interest was the lowest paid in the history of the borough. The

work would be done by competent labour at standard rates of pay, the Unemployment Board having agreed to grant a subsidy of 35/ per man per week. Rate Payments. A tribute to the courage of the ratepavers, who had done their best to pay heir rates under conditions of extreme difficulty, was paid by Mr. A. A. Ander-

son, chairman of the finance committee of the council. He said that the council's scheme allowing ratepayers to pay their rates by instalments had proved so successful that the overdraft had been reduced from £34,000 in 1931 to £12,829 last year. The total amount of rates levied was £85.740 in 1931-32, and was reduced to £74.880 in 1934-35. Although this was £5000 less than the previous year's levy, the revenue was £3005 more than in the previous year, 98.45 per cent of the levy having been collected. If the Crown assumed its liability for rates, said Mr. the levy could be reduced by at least 10 per cent.

A report on the public works undertaken during the year was given by Mr. V. A. Coyle.