Milton Borough Affairs.

Bruce Herald, Volume LV, Issue 62, 14 August 1919, Page 5

Milton Borough Affairs.

* A STATE OF CHAOS. 8 A state of offiirs something approachins; chaos h app%r. ft nt in connection with ?yfiiton Borough Council milters—-finan-cial and statistical. No balance-sheet has been prepared since 1916, and ap. parently tho Council's only knowledge of the state of its finances is from a perusal of the debits and credits in its bank book. Since the Town Clerk's illness, an attempt was made to unravel the tangle, and Mr L. W. Potter was appointed by the Finance Committee to endeavour to prepare balance-sheets for the past throe years, but Mr Potter has now relinquished the task. Application was then made to Sir James Allen to obtain the services of a Government auditor to undertake the work ; this has been successful, and the senior. ■ auditor from Dunedin oflbe is expected to make a start this week. The Gas Committee's affairs aro also in a similarly sorry plight. Although over eighteen months have elapsed since the gaswo'rks were virtually closed for private consumption, several accounts for. gas remain still unpaid, including some of largo amounts. The difficulty arises that subsequent accounts cannot bo rendered until the books have been duly audited. For months psst the Government Statistician has been endeavouring to obtain certain financial statistics for inclusion in the municipal Year Book, but hero again the difficulty arises that the information cannot be supplied until the balance, sheets aro available. The bug-bear to a local su hority—outstanding rates—also looms largely on ] tho Council's horizon. The acting Town Clerk has prepared a approximate statemont of these to Maroh 31st of each year, which show :

*Paid £26 123. Approximate amount £156,

1915-16--Rates* . £55 8j oa 1915-16--Sanitary . £7 17s 6d 1916-17--Rates . £21 93 3d 1916.17--Sanitary . £7 17s 61 1917-18--Rates . £21 33 Od 1917-18--Sanitary . £7 lis 3d 1918-19--Rates, about £35 03 Od