BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 127, 31 May 1935, Page 3

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

MOUNT ROSKILL BOARD. CHAIRMAN REVIEWS YEAR. Remarking on the slight improvement recorded in the conditions in the Dominion during tlio past year, the chairman of the Mount Roskill Road Board, in presenting the annual report last evening, said the improvement was shown in the rate collections in the borough. In a lengthy review of the activities of the board for the 12 months, Mr. MeCullough said that in major works 35,300 ft of kerbing had been laid, 14 street intersections had been sealed, a work which, he said, would mean a saving in maintenance. The full width of certain roads had been sealed, tlie total length being 1.5 C miles. Ho detailed a comprehensive list of road sealing and kerbing which the board had under consideration. The Main Highways Board had agreed to subsidise further concrete pavement work for the Mount Albert Road highway, at £3 to £1. Tenders would shortly be called for the work. Despite the reduction of the maximum charge for water to £1 10/ per annum, the water account was now in a much improved condition. The cash receipts for water last year were greater than the previous year by £1000, and the amount paid out for water was £1100 less. Finance and Statistics. For the year 1034-35 a reduction in the rate levy was again made by the board; but this was not universally enjoyed, since in certain special loan areas, the requirements of the annual loan charges on reduced area valuations made individual variations inevitable. The percentage of rates collccted, current 73.2 per cent and arrears 51.30 per cent, showed an appreciable improvement against the figures for the previous two years. All the works carried out for the last two years had been met out of revenue, and no loan moneys had been raised in any portion of the district. The present capital value (1935 valuation) was £2.200,000, and when compared with the loan liability, £106,742 0/, demonstrated that in comparison with adjacent bodies, the district was not unduly burdened, the sinking funds having been maintained to the required standard.