NEARLY EXTINGUISHED

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 171, 15 April 1932, Page 10

NEARLY EXTINGUISHED

City’s Reduced Deficit £22,000 TO £lOO Financial Statement Reviewed CLEAR OUTLOOK FOR YEAR , It was announced at last evening’s meeting of the Wellington City Council that the result of the economies practised during the past financial year had exceeded all expectations. The Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, stated that the deficit of. £22,000, which had faced the incoming council, had been reduced to £lOO. The Mayor said councillors would remember that when they came into office some two months after the beginning of the last financial year they had to face a deficit of between £22,000 and £23,000, together with a very difficult year ahead. They bad started that year with very much less Income than had been available in the previous period. They bad been obliged to curtail a considerable number of their votes and to exercise a very rigid degree of economy in other directions. He bad hoped that as a result of the economies made the deficit would be reduced from £22,000 to about £ll,OOO, and before the end of the year he had considered it wise to make still further curtailments, but the results were very different from what he had anticipated or hoped for. “The position is,” said the Mayor, “that we have ended tbe year with a deficit of £lOO. Practically the whole of the deficit has been wiped off. “Our payments have included £l7OO to the Civic Inquiry Commission, and, when the allocation of this payment is dealt with, It may be found proper to charge some of it to the departments which were investigated. If this were done—it could not be done at the time—we would end the year with a small surplus.” Common Object. The result, he continued, was far better than he had thought possible, and was due entirely to the way in which the committees, the heads of departments, and the employees had worked toward the common object of economy. He desired to express his thanks to those who had thus co-oper-ated in so successful a fashion. “We have now got complete control of the financial situation of the city and can start the coming yfcar clear,” he added. “Further, we have made a small reduction in tb<» rates — ' approximately 3 per cent.” Referring to the estimates for the coming year, the Mayor explained that these were not quite ready for consideration in open council. He proposed that they be considered in committee and later dealt with finally at a special meeting. In the meantime lie moved that tbe statement of receipts and expenditure be received. Mayor’s Wonderful Lead. Councillor W. Appleton said the.result undoubtedly had been due to the wonderful lead given by the Mayor. As a new councillor be wished to pay a tribute to the courageous policy the .Mayor had adopted from the outsef. He had put a brake on expenditure. If this had not been done—if the city had possessed a Mayor who bad not put on such a brake—tbe result 'might have been different. Councillor Appleton said he wished also to pay a tribute to Councillor T. Forsyth, chairman of the works committee, for his part in the 'economy fneasures effected. His committee had saved something like £16,000. Other committees had done exceedingly well, but the achievement of the works committee had been a particularly notable one.

Addresisng the Mayor again, Coun/clllor Appleton said: “You, sir, set the pace that has been followed, and the citizens of Wellington should be promt of your administration.” Councillors W. H. Bennett and W. Duncan joined with Councillor Appleton in offering congratulations to the Mayor, and Councillors F. Meadowcroft and R. McKeen also added their congratulations. Labour Viewpoint. Councillor McKeen said that the position had been brought about by the sacrifice of others. Hundreds had been dismissed from the council’s employ, and it meant a great deal of suffering, and something approaching starvation to many. Those people had helped to bring about the position, but his Worship had certainly dealt with things in a “business-like way.” Councillor R. Semple said he disagreed with the policy of the Mayor. If he had his way he would not allow anyone in the country more than £5OO a year. There was a lot of talk about equality of sacrifice —when there was none. He would take it from the top —the highly-paid officials of the Government and council —and chop them in two for a start. If this depression went on, and he did not see any sign of it lifting, there was a day of reckoning coming, when no one would escape the pruning knife. “I wish to disassociate myself from the general policy of the council,” said Councilor Semple. “Still, I want to congratulate his Worship on tackling the job on the lines dictated by the policy of the council.” The Mayor said it was simply that the council had so much money and having to make it go round. It laid not been a pleasant thing to do. and they had to get. through, but he disliked as much as anyone having to cut down services and the consequent distress to so many people. They had so much money and had to do the best they could with it. The financial statement was received.