EASTBOURNE AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 143, 21 June 1929, Page 15

EASTBOURNE AFFAIRS

BOEOUGH COUNCIL MEETING

The Eastbourne Borough Council held its monthly meeting laat night, the Mayor (Mr. H. M. Jones) presiding. There were also present Councillors E. W. Wise W F.Hprnig, E. N, Battersby, S. G. Shearer, A. Walker, S; F. Fisher, and the Town Clerk (Mr. C. L. Bishop). : v In reference to a letter from the Now Brighton "Borough Council requesting support in a protest 'against the introduction of the universal Saturday half-holiday, the Town Clerk reported that he had referred the matter'to the business people of the borough,-; and they had expressed themselves as very much opposed to the universal Saturday half-holiday., the introduction of which would seriously affect their business". The.-cpuncil decided to support the New Brighton Borough Council. . Traffic returns for the month of May were presented, the; /figures for May, X 928, being given ku parentheses. Passengers carried oh the" Muritai numbered 11,845 (16,038), and on the Gobav 10,066 (19,801). The total number of passengers cai'ried between Ist April and 31st May was 48,334 (69,616). -The Muritai steamed 780 miles (570), on a total oil consumption of 40.25 tons (24,5).: The number of round trips made -was 52 (38). The Cobar steamed 915 miles (2827.5), using 29 tons of coal (73). She made 63 round trips (188%). The Duchess was not in commission; last mont . Tlu decreases in the ferry traffic figures were due to the,fact that-holders of ferry tickets were carried by buses during the overhaul of the steamers. The annual account and balance-sheet, released by the Audit Department, were adopted by the council. The District Fund Account (borough) showed that the expenditure for the year had been within the estimates, and that while some very heavy committments, particularly payment of a balance due on land purchased (approximately £3000) had been met/ the account showed . a debit balance. of ouly £19. The ferry accounts disclosed that the result of the year's trading was slight■ly better than that of the previous.year, a small profit being shown on actual trading. 'As in the past,- however, the very heavy interest and sinking fund charges (approximately £5000) had had to be met by the ratepayers by way. of special rates. The bus accounts, like those of former years, showed the position to be very satisfactory, the profit from trading being approximately, the same as it was last year. In addition. to writing off substantial depreciation (approximately 30 jier' cent), paying interest en original capital, and setting aside the amount required for a sinking fund, a profit of approximately £500 remained tc be carried to appropriation account, to be added to accumulated profit. The bank accounts in all departments showed credit balances at 31st March. The district fund was £239 14s 5d in credit, the ferry account £239 15s sd, and the bus account £3306 16s.