CITY BALANCE SHEET

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 181, 28 April 1922, Page 4

CITY BALANCE SHEET

NOT PLEASANT READING Deficit of £42,000 on YEAR A deficit of £42,000 for the year was announced by the Mayor at last night's meeting of the. City Council. The estimates for the new year, said Mr. Wright, would have to be cut down, by £58,000. “I have hero an interim balancesheet ter the year ended March 31, and it does not make too pleasant reading,” remarked the Mayor (Mr. R. A. IVright) at the meeting of the City Council last evening. His Worship •pointed out that thf debit balance shown was £42,492 14s. 4d. on the year’s working. Certain items of expenditure were included in this which could not have been foreseen. They wished to have a general cleaning up, in order that they could start the new year on a sound basis, and know exactly where they stood. “We are now working under the new Act. of Parliament, which holds each individual member of the council responsible for any item of expenditure he votes for beyond the council’s income.” Councillor Underwood: Did you vote 'for that ? The Mayor: “Yes, 1 did. I consider it high time that a halt was called to public bodies exceeuing their income.” Th-?v had started the year with a handicap of £9OOO, which should have been paid last year. They had had to find £5OOO for the new Technical Schorl building, £4427 for land purchased, and £973 for alterations to Mercer Street. Then they had had to find an additional £B6OO for a etoam roller, tar-mixer, and machinery for the Ngahauranga quarry. They were making every effort to get in every account up to March 31, in order that they could make a clean start for the new year. The estimates for the new year exceeded the amounts available by £58.000. and would have to be cut down by that amount. Councillor H. D. Bennett: Can you tell us what will be the council s antecedent liability after we clear off this £42.000? The Mayor: About £350,000. Councillor S. H. Underwood: What is the position regarding outstanding The Mayor replied that the pomtrnn was not satisfactory, as about £20,000 was outstanding under this head.