SOUND POSITION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 90, 16 April 1940, Page 4

SOUND POSITION.

MANUKAU FINANCE. COUNTY CLERK'S REVIEW. A report covering the position of Manukau County finances as at .March 31, was submitted by Mr. Edgar Ashcroft, county clerk, at to-day's meeting of the council. Receipts from all sources totalled £126,<12 10/3, and payments amounted to £129,377 14/, he said. The increase of approximately £30,000 in payments over the previous year was chiefly due to the expenditure of loan moneys on main highways. Credit balances at the bank amounted to £12,796 9/7. The report showed a further improvement in the collection of rates, 95.72 per cent of the amount levied 'having been collected; the previous vear the percentage collected was 94.7 per cent. The collection of rate arrears had also improved, 50.7 per cent being the proportion received as against 39.3 per cent the previous year. Building activity in the countv showed ft slight decrease—2sl permits bein<* issued for the erection of buildings with a total value of £76,849. For the 193839 penod, 272 permits had been issued tor a total value of £84.781. An increase was reported in the amount collected from the issue of heavy traffic licenses and motor drivers' £ 5094*7/n' 16 tota ' SUm roCeived was Subsidies an« grants from the Main Highways Board and Public Works Department totalled £29.014 2/7. report referred to t-lic sound petition of county finance, whereby the council was enabled to give ratepavers maximum service for the rates collected and permitted it to meet all commitments and operate plant at maximum efficiency. The policy of providing i„ the annual estimates a sum for thc%oJe purpose of plant renewal liad proved a wise one and the satisfactory returns from plant and quarrying operations had contributed to the satisfactory financial position.