LEESTON TOWN BOARD

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LIII, Issue 12, 12 February 1932, Page 5

LEESTON TOWN BOARD

CAN RATES BE REDUCED?

REVIEW OF EXPENDITURE.

LOWER VALUATIONS AHEAD.

The possibility of reducing the general rate for the next financial year was under discussion at the monthly meeting of the Leeston Town Board on Tuesday evening.

There were present: Cmrs. J. C. Free (chairman), F. Rowell, A. S. Lyons, W. Johnston and W. A. Johnston. Apologies for absence on behalf of Cmrs. L. C. Vicary and R. J. McConnell were accepted.

EXPLOSIVES INSPECTION. The Chief Inspector of Explosives wrote that a sum of £4/10/- was payable to the Public Account as the share of the license fees collected by the Board. The premises of licensees had been inspected and the conditions of storage had been found satisfactory.

It was agreed that the amount should be paid. The clerk said that the total of the fees collected for che year was £25, and the profit to the Board £20 10s.

FIRE ENGINE ALARM. Cmr. Rowell, chairman of the Works Committee, stated that the trees around Memorial Square were dying as a result of the dry weather, and asked the Board's permission to have them watered by means of the fire engine. Cmr. Rowell also mentioned fehat the fire engine was still without a syren, as required by the regulations. The clerk said that the insurance companies had assured him that the absence of a syren did not affect the Board's liability in the event of accident. The only need for a syren was to comply with the Motor Regulations, which provided that all fire engines should carry this type of warning device. At present, the engine was equipped with a good bell. RUTS IN MAIN STREET. Cmr. Lyons mentioned that the portion of High street above the hotel and fronting the recreation ground was in a rough condition, and suggested that the works committee should have improvements made.

The clerk said that a quantity of big shingle had been spread on this part some years ago when it was in a damp condition during the winter. This had been necessary on account of the tall poplars then growing along the property on the right shading the road from the sun. These big stones were now working to the top, and required picking off.

The matter was left to the works committee for attention.

ESTIMATED CREDIT. Cmr. Lyons, chairman of the Finance Committee, reported that the total amount of rates struck was £1633 6s 9d, the amount collected £595 12s Id, and the balance outstanding £1037 14s Bd. The accounts for payment totalled £97 lis, which would increase the bank debit balance to £826 lis Id. With the March accounts estimated at £100, the debit balance would be further increased to £926 lis Id. This, deducted from the amount of rates to come in, would leave a credit balance on the year's working of £111 3s 7d. In addition, there was a sum of between £35 and £40 in back rates not included in the figures. It was expected that rate money would be collected freely during this month, as the ten per cent, penalty operated after February 29. Included in the accounts was the annual grant of £15 to the Fire Brigade. SEARCH FOR ECONOMIES. The chairman said he would like the Finance Committee to bring in a report at the next meeting with a view to a reduction in the rates. They should consider what economies could be effected and tha lowest rate they could strike. He was satisfied that many people were now paying; a rate that they could not afford. He had intended to move for a referendum on the question of whether th£ town

j district should re-join the county, but seeing that the Economy Commission was now sitting, and that there was a possibility of its pushing town boards into counties, it would be well to wait for its report. Still, he would like to see a fair reduction in the rates for the coming year.

! Cmr. Lyons said it had been the I Finance Committee's intention to reduce the rates for the coming year. He had made some enquiries and considered it quite possible to reduce the rates slightly, but whether they could promise to reduce them by any considerable amount would be a question that would involve practically a reconstruction of the expenditure of the Board. There were certain charges which were always recurring, and it would appear that there was no great saving to be made. He could assure the Board that the Finance Committee would do everything possible. At the same time, they would have to keep in mind that it might be folly to let anything go back. If the Board were to hold a special meeting before the estimates for the coming year were fixed, it could go into every department of expenditure and see what could be done. The roadman's wages, the sanitary service, and the office expenditure were three of the main items of expense. He thought that anything decided on should be done by the whole Board, and he suggested that if the Board desired a great reduction in rates, it should hold a special meeting and go into the matter exhaustively.

CONSOLIDATION OF BODIES

Cmr. Rowell said that the Prime Minister had announced some time ago that a separate Commission, apart from the Economy Committee, was to go into the question of the consolidation of local bodies, but it had not been appointed yet. Cmr. W. Johnston: There was so much opposition that it was left. The chairman: If we could run Leeston at a minimum rate and keep it at that, we would all prefer to do so than come under the jurisdiction of the county. «I do not see why that is not possible. A farthing reduction in the rates, it was said, would not relieve the average householder to any great extent, but would mean a considerable saving to the larger ratepayers. Cmr. Lyons predicted a reduced capital valuation in the near future. That would mean that the ordinary revenue was going to be reduced considerably. How could the Board then carry on with a greatly reduced rate? The chairman said that the expenditure should be reduced now so that the Board could meet the reduced valuation. The clerk said that the valuations of the older properties were reasonable, but those erected since 1921 stood at inflated values. The Board decided to discuss the question of economies at its next ordinary meeting instead of referring it to a special meeting.' ,