CITY ESTIMATES REDUCED.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20551, 20 May 1932, Page 10

CITY ESTIMATES REDUCED.

WORKS COMMITTEE'S ACHIEVEMENT. INCREASE IN WATER ALLOWANCE RECOMMENDED.

What the chairman (Or. J. W. Beanland) describes as a substantial reduction has been made in the 1932-33 estimates of the Water Supply and Works Committee, Avhich represents tho chief spending department of the Christchurch City Council. At a meeting this week tho committee decided not only to reduce its estimates but to Teeommend to the Council an increase of 5000 gallons in the annual allowance of water to each house and a reduction in the rate paid for excess water. The Reserves Committee, which is the next largest spending department, will consider its estimates next Monday; and it is expected that the full estimates will be finally dealt with 7 by the Finance Committee and brought before the Council within a month. . Savings dn Maintenance. After a two hours' investigation of the estimates, said Cr. Beanland, tho Works Committee had managed to make a substantial reduction. This reduction had been possible largely on account of tho savings in maintenance following upon the programme of roading improvements carried out during the past two years. These improvements were now saving a great deal in maintenance, and would in the future save considerably more. Discussing the committee's provision for unemployment relief works, Cr. Beanland said that at present they j were carrying on in the same way as last year. When the estimates were considered by the Council the Finance Committee would bring down a report allocating to the Works Committee what amounts they thought necessary to. carry on tho relief works. It was anticipated that some £30,000 would be required; and this amount would be taken from various sources without hindering any part of the Council's work. It was probable that the Council would be able to continue its unemployment works for the rest of the year on the same scale as it had started. Allowance of Water. The committee is recommending the C -rncil to increase the allowance of water to householders to 30,000 gallons annually. This allowance was formerly 20, 00 gallons and was increased to 25,000 gallons only last year. Further, the committee has considered a reduction in the charge for water in excess of the allowance, and in all probability" a reduction from one shilling to tenpence a thousand gallons will be made. In a recent statement the chairman of the Finance Committee (Cr. J. McCombs, M.P.) held out some hope that the Council would be able to make a further reduction of 12J per cent, in the general rate this year.