HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 184, 2 May 1933, Page 4

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dealing mainly with the reduction <>f rates, Mr. J. AV. McEwan (mayoral candidate for Petone) will address electors in Wilfortl School to-night. Other speakers will be Messrs. L. Stewart, and AV. P. Watkinson. Details arc given in the advertising columns. The following old pupils of the Hutt Valley High School represented Victoria University College at the university ton run incut held iu Auckland .‘it, Easter: Miss Betty Olphert. (basketball). Miss Peggy Price and H. Treniewun (swimming), and A. S. Henderson (athletics). Intimation that proposals had been submitted to him by the town clerk of n scheme for the conversion and consolidation of loans at a substantia) saving to ratepayers, was given by ibe Mayor of Eastbourne, Mr. S. F. Fisher, at a reecut meeting.

BOROUGH FINANCES

Eastbourne Mayor’s ReA’iew

The claim that, the finances of East--bourne had steadily improved during his term as mayor was made at a meeting at. Eastbourne last evening by Mr. S. F. ; Fisher, who is seeking re-cleet ion. AA’hen Im took otlice two years ago, said Mr. Fisher, there was a debit balance in the general account of £7OO. This debit in his first year in odicc, on account of heavy expenditure on sea-wall and other relief works, increased to £l5OO. Although faced with that debit at. the beginning of the past financial year, at the end the debit, had been wiped off and u small credit, shown. All expenditure during this past year was kept within the estimates ami, despite a fall in revenue, the position was very satisfactory. . Two years ago there was in the special loverdraft account still to be paid off a balance of £l5OO. This amount had nowbeen paid off and the rate struck on this account would not be necessary in future. During the past two years the accuniul.-it-cd sinking fluids for repayment of loans had increased from £15,000 to over £B).000, thus reducing the loan liability. In addition to this, cash amounting Io approximately £3OOO had been paid to tin: I Public 'Trustee to form a fund for the renewal of assets in the ferry and bus <lepa'rtinent.s in the future. Further, of the rates struck for the past year, 85 per cent, had been collected. Dealing with the administration of Ibe borough, .Mr. Fisher said that ou a turnover of approximately £35,000 for the three departineuts. the costs for lite past year represented approximately 04 per cent, of thc lotal revenue, In ordinary

business circles, tip Io 10 per cent, was considered satisfactory, while in the ease of the. AVellingpm Cify Council the administration costs as per the commissioners’ report were 17 per cent. Any business person would admit that the costs had been extremely low, and that any such attack as was made in this direction was most; unwarranted and most unfair to the officers. Mr. Fisher said that as 'administration costs included such items as salaries, lighting and heating, postages, printing, tickets, stationery, legal expenses, bank charges, telephones, audit fees, and the sundry other office expenses, it would be impossible for anyone to run the three departments ou an average of less than £750 per department. Further, the costs would now compare most favourably with any municipal concern in New Zealand. The costs live years ago were, roughly, £-1000, and even two years ago the amount was £2900, as against £2300 for the financial year just ended.

AVorks advocated by Mr. Fisher are:— Extension of sea-wall in order to protect properties from the danger of erosion and also from sand nuisance, thc amount to be placed on estimates each year; formation of permanent footpaths, and the putting of same down in hard surfaces; formulation of a .scheme for the permanent lay-out of streets when sewerage completed, nml the sealing of a portion of certain streets each year; and the cutting of fire belts to protect borough reserves and native bush.

WORKS AT LOWER HUTT

Air. A. Afcßain’s Candidature

Speaking at Alicetowu last night, .Mr. A. Mcßain (Mayoral candidate for Lower Hutt) dealt at some length with the works carried out. in the borough during the past two years, giving details of various road improvements, and also of several sewer extensions, all of which were done out of revenue. If returned, he said, he would advocate a policy of road sealing in certain streets—particularly along bus routes —even if the xvork were done in sections as money was available, but he set his face determinedly against any borrowing.

Any candidate, said Mr. Mcßain, who annuounccd schemes which were to be done without cost Io the ratepayers, was either guilty of holding back information xvhich should have been submitted to the cotiiicil or its engineer, and used for thc workless, or he was inerel.v using such problematic schemes for vote catching. While supporting a policy of adequate maintenance of all borough ximenties, be could advocate only such. new work as was rendered imperative for health or safety reasons. Mr. Mcßain dealt at length with his long years of service to Hie borough, mid solicited a further proof of the confidence hitherto reposed.in him. HARBOUR BOARD Claims of Ah’. A. WalkeiA career which has been entirely -devoted to marine matters, is the chief claim of Mr. Archibald Walker to representation for tho Hutt: electorate on the Wellington Harbour Board. Mr. Walker joined the Bluff Harbour Board in 1893, and remained in that service for seven years. lie then entered the Marine Department as a surveyor of ships and an examiner. Mr. Walker was in the Government service for ten years, and in 1912 was anpoiiitcd Lloyd’s Itegisler surveyor at '•«»’lingtop. lie held the appointment mi.,l 1924, when be entered business on his own account as a surveyor of ships and registered average adjuster. Mr. ■Walker was born in New Zealand, and he has been in Wellington for twenty-one years. He considers that there is room for improvement In the lighting of the harbour surroundings. “The lights which have been installed tire not as they should be for a harbour of the magnitude of (lie port of Wellington,” Mr. Walker said yesterday. REDUCTION IN RATES Proposals by Air. J. W. McEwan

Contending that, taking last year's balance-sheet as a basis, the I’eloue rates could be reduced by 20 per cent., Mr. .1, W. Meldwan (mayoral candidate for I’etonel, addressed a large meeting at Koro Koro. He said the outstanding rales were £917 for 11)27. ami 1335 for the previous year. Tim .•(mount ontst,•Hiding at the present time was £ll Jilt), and even during Ihe boom .vein's the outstanding rates went up to £4(10(4. The £6001) debenture lax could be reihiced by £2(l(>(). and receipts other than rales would pro-

dime fSIIIHI. By a more thorough system of rale collection, the outstanding rales could produce £lOOO. 'The reserve fund would produce £2571). making a total of £11.80(1. The expenditure. on the basis of hist year, including works, interest, hospital levy, waterworks. ami unemployment, would amount to £.'16.600. leaving a surplus of £B2OO to cover last year's debit of 1'1770. Mr. McEwan submitted that his service on the Harbour Board, Power Board, . Hospital Board, and other local bodies, added to bis experience «s mayor, would be of great advantage to the borough at I’the present time.

RATES AT PETONE Mr. McEAvan’s Statements t REPLY BY THE MAYOR • Statements made by Mr. J. VV. McEwan 5 regarding J’ctoue rates have been challenged by (be mayor, Air. D. McKenzie, • Air. AlcEwau is a candidate for the mayoral election. ' "In making bis comparison of the rates for the respective periods, Mr. AlcEwau . i has conveniently lost, sight of. the fact ■ | that, from .1924 to .11)27, £17,813. of de- ; beuture money was used, an average of £4150 per annum, a tidy sum for the relief of rates,” says Air. McKenzie. "During my period from 1928 to 1933 only £101.2 was used, an average of' £770. Loans to the extent of £28,000 were authorised iu 1926, my predecessor’s time, but the interest, amounting to £lB9O per annum, was first met in my term of office. The rates received from the AVilford Settlement do not affect the position as extra charges have to be made to provide the modern facilities for this area. "The general rate levied in 1926-27 was 3 107-128 d. in the pound, and in 1932-33, 293-100 d. in the pound. This explains the decrease in the amount received, which is not due to the outstanding rates as suggested. It is plain to all that whoever has charge of the finances the outstanding rates, iu the meantime, must increase with so many ratepayers unemployed. "The rate demands ore sent out earlier than in Air. McEwan’s time, Thc sum of £12,600 was collected before the end of August last year through allowing a discount of 21 per cent, for prompt payment. The overdraft interest saved by this means is passed on to the ratepayers in the form of this discount, the net result being practically the same. A higher discount than 21 per cent, would mean it loss to the council unless a provision was made iu the estimates which would penalise those not in a fortunate position to pay immediately. Every effort is made, to collect the rates long before the 10 per cent, penalty is due. “Arrears of rates collected are used to offset the current rates uncollected. Last year’s arrears collected amount to £2183. against which £6735 remained uncollected. Mr. AlcEwau optimistically estimates that £4OOO arrears will be collected this year, and losing sight of thc fact that approximately £SOOO current rates are likely to be outstanding he proposes to use Hie estimated £4OOO to cut down the amount to be levied. "The borough would be bspikrupt very quickly by guch a method of finance. Anyone promising £6OOO reduction _ in the rates only insults the average individual's intelligence, and particularly the ten members who have sat around the council table in an honest endeavour Io relieve the conditions in every way possible. The borough needs a level head in charge of affairs, not a magician. Mr. McEwan has also lost sight of the fact that £53.6 was received last year from the interest tax, so that, the gain this year will be only £1484 and not £2OOO. The £ll,OOO outstanding rates does not include the 10 per cent, penalty as be states. “On the Jackson Street widening only £15,000 hag been spent to date, £5OOO of which has been advanced from overdraft pending the raising of the money, a difficult task at present. It is impossible to reduce rates and complete the widening at the same time. Air. McEwan is evidently right out of touch with this matter, as in the past when he stated on one occasion at a public meeting that the loan authority had lapsed,” concluded Mr. McKenzie.

HUTT MAYORALTY

Mr. Andrews Speaks

The proposal to erect a grandstand on the Hutt Recreation Ground, which would provide work for all classes of unemployed tradesmen at full union rates of pay, without costing Lower Hutt, ratepayers a penny in extra rates, was advanced by Air. J. AA r . Andrews (Mayoral candidate for Lower Hutt) to a crowded meeting in the King George Concert Hall, Lower Hutt, last evening. Mr. Al. J. Hodgins presided. Mr. Andrews stated that he hail a number of proposals which, if electeik he would discuss with the borough engineer. These proposals would produce something of real use to the community, and would be less irritating and less irksome to the relief workers themselves. He would also confer with the chairman of the Hutt River Board on several other proposals. It was the speaker’s aim to be helpful to the unemployed, not to offer merely palliatives, and be would be prepared at all times to examine any proposition put forward by a ratepayer whether in business or unemployed. The immediate prevention of interference by Mayor or councillors with any of the borough officers’ was a point particularly emphasised by Air. Andrews. “In the past there bus been one by-law I for friends and acquaintances and another for the man in the street.” he remarked. Further proposals advocated by the call’ didate were the purging of the. electoral rolls, and thc revision of the building bylaws with a reduction of permit charges. Dealing with the borough accounts. Mr. Andrews intimated that if h.n dd not think that they needed .handling by a ■man with commercial training he would not have consented to stand for election. The speaker sottmUy condemned the “ticket” system, which, he asserted., was an insult to the intelligence of the electors. “Although the whisper is going round that I am too young at 42 for the postton that. I am too young at 42 for the position of Mayor.” observed Air. Andrew, “no one captain of a company during the war. AA'hile a member of the Masterton Borough Council, said .Air. Andrews.. he had revised the whole of the building by-laws, and had reorganised the works department. which wits still operating on his plan. A point in his favour, considered the candidate, was the fact that he had not served on the local borough council, and was not therefore “part of the old gang. Tn conclusion. Mr. Andrews urged the electors when considering the candidates, to regard the election of Mayor in inc light of appointing a manager who would conduct their business profitably and honestlv. even if they were absent.

REQUIREMENTS OF MAYOR

Air. G. Findlay’s Opinions

Mr. George Findlay (Mayoral candi; date for L’etone) stressed Petone’s need ol a younger Mayor of business training at a nicotine in thc OiUllpUows’ Hall, last evening. Mr. Findlay stated that he was a lifelong resident of Petone, his ptirents having iieen connected with Petone's development since its infancy. He hoped, if elected, by careful .scrutiny of borough expenditure, to effect considerable savings, and alternately to be able to reduce rates. He considered that one of the most important qualifications for a Mayor was to be able adequately to represent the borough in its dealings with other bodies, and that. Hie possibility of legislation eompeJling nmalgnniiilion of local bodies being brought down within the .next two years in itself justified his election. On the question of unemployment, he stated that ns flu's was a national one. councils had little power to alleviate the position, but he believed that two much work was done as relief jobs, which should be done in the ordinary course at union wages. Further. Mr. Findlay stated. Ips legal and bushii'.'ss training would certainly result in a saving to thc borough should he be elected.