INCREASED RATES FORECAST

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22411, 26 May 1938, Page 10

INCREASED RATES FORECAST

LOCAL BODIES IN CHRISTCHURCH

TRAMWAY LEVY EXPECTED TO BE HIGHER

drainage board estimates RAISED

Increases in rates of mbst of the public bodies in Christchurch can be expected by ratepayers this year. An indication of the increased demands which will be made will be given by next week’s meeting of the Drainage Board, when the finance committee will present the estimates, which will call for a substantial rise in the amount to be collected. The finance committee met on Monday night. The inevitability of a rise in the rates of the City Council is freely admitted. New awards recently made cause the new council to be faced with the finding of an additional £BOOO, and the heavy rise in the cost of materials will also have to be considered.

In addition, a programme of works is being considered by the council, the majority members of which hold that insufficient improvements had been made in recent -years. Labour’s policy was defined by Mr R. M. Macfarlane, the Mayor, at the opening of the municipal election campaign. The policy was to keep the rates as low as was consistent with efficient Administration, he said. Frequent requests had been made to the outgoing council for necessary improvements, but it was impossible to keep the rates down if necessary l improvements were to be made. No reduction of rates would honestly be promised by any party during the campaign. Tramway Finances The biggest increase in rates is likely to be made by the Tramways Board, it is stated. The board , last year struck rates amountihg to £l9,ooo—its estimated deficiency. The effects of the introduction of the new Tramway Regulations which have been drafted but not yet approved by the Minister for Transport (the Hon. R. Semple) and of the new award which the tramway employees will soon seek cannot be assessed. The tramway award expired on March 31, but no steps have been taken by the union for a new agreement. No award negotiations will be undertaken until the Arbitration Court gives its judgment on the question of double pay for Sunday work. “On that decision our claims for wages and conditions will hinge,” said Mr Tom Smith, the secretary of the union, yesterday afternoon.