SUMNER RATES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19691, 7 August 1929, Page 4

SUMNER RATES.

THIS YEAR'S INCREASE EXPLAINED. STATEMENT BY THE MAYOR. Regarding the discussion on the increase in the rates in Sumner this .vear, the Mayor (Mr W. EL. Nicholson) told a representative of The Pkess yesterday that he made the position clear when the estimates were under consideration. In view of the apparent want of knowledge on the part of certain anonymous correspondents whose letters have appeared in i hjs Press, ho thought that it might be advisable again to set out the reason for the increase. Mr Nicholson made the following statement: "The estimates for the year ending March 31f>t. 1929, provided for 'pier repairs, £lo' only, and 'contingencies, Works Department, £l2.' The actual expenditure on these two heads as compared with the estimates amounted to £479. In connexion with the repairs to the pier, the Council, on June 2oth, 1923, realising the possibility of this work involving a heavy debt balance in the general account, unanimously agreed to send a letter to the Lyttelton Harbour Board confirming tiit action taken by the Mayor in approaching the Board and arranging far its assistance by grant of material, etc , towards the repair of the lifeboathouse and pier. The Council's appreciation was tendered to the Board for its generous assistance. Notwithstanding the assistance given, however, it was further realised that this urgent work could not be carried out without incurring an overdraft, the result being that the Council, under the Local Bodies Finance Act, was given special statutory power to incur an overdraft up to £6OO. subject to the condition that the sum expended should be provided from rates in the ensuing financial year Ratepayers are fortunate in that the Lyttelton Harbour Board was able to assist in this matter, as otherwise the cost of this work would have been double the amount actually paid out from the general account. "Had the authority mentioned above not been obtained from the Government and the rate struck as provided for, the Council would have had no option but to have further reduced tfiF: number of its general mamtenan"e ftaff by at least three men for the whole year, which, in view of the tact that the minimum number to meet the requirements of the engineer is now only employed, would manifestly not have been in the best interests of the borough. "There are other commitments from the previous year which had to be met by the present Council, a-art from general maintenance, and which were not provided for in the 1928 estimates for instance, the £SO grant towards unemployment during the-last winter, and the grant towards the new lifeboat fund. both of which were unanimously agreed to by the previous Council, but which necessarily had to In? provided for on this year's estimates. increased this year by the Hospital Board and as the amount required for last vear ,vas underestimated by £45 by the previous Council, it was also necessary to make additional provision for the reduction of the debit balance in addition to the Board s increase in levy this vear. "Practically the whole of this vear'* increase in the general rate is nonrecurring, and apart from possible unavoidable increases in expenditu-e S ft? t ma "f r » as requirements under the Town Planning Act Health Act. etc.. F see no reason why one* the extraordinary expenditure of this vear has been met the rates next year should not be again reduced."