CITY AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 66, 20 March 1933, Page 9

CITY AFFAIRS

RATEPAYERS' INTERESTS

LOCAL BODY DEBTS

Though a general meeting has been postponed, seveTal mutters of importance were considered 'by the executive of the Wellington Ratepayers' Association at the last meeting.

Referring to the attetnpt by the^City Council to divert without the sanction of ratepayers £113,000 of unused loan money relating to the water . supply loan of 1920, the association points out that its efforts' were influential in tho postponement of a deeasion in. tho matter until May, when, the electors are to decide it. Owinjg to a rearrangement in the engineering part of the undertaking, the original estimate of £561,900 was not fully required, and the sum of £.113,000 was placed on deposit with the Union. Baxik'for some years. Tho association's contention was that the money shoulcl remain on deposit until, the full loan became repayable, thus easing, in. the meantime, interest burdens, and later easing the amount of principal to be ra paid. The council put up a, plea for'diversion on the ground that new reservoirs and extra provision for water was an urgent necessity, but, in view of :.the near approach of the municipal elections, the association saw no reason why the work should be allowed to go on as an "expedient," and oppor.ed the whole scheme on the ground t hat the j ratepayers' sanction should be obtained befoie any unused loan moneys were diverted from the purpose originally intended. After strong reprusentav tions before Parliament, the Legislative Council, and the- Mayor, the contention of the association was upheUd.

During the summer months the; association received many" complaints regarding the quality of the City Cwuncil milk, more particularly regarding its keeping qualities. (This was presumably due to the afternoon deliveries.) The matter was taken up with the department. BURDEN OF KATES. "It is unfortunate," states the association, "that owing to the extravag.'j nt administration of past councils vary small rate reduction has been possibles, and unless the association had bean hard at work during the past two yeaip rates would ha ve risen to a very higii figure. -Wellington's fixed charges foe interest are over £300,000 per annum.; so is it any wonder that it is very! difficult to obtain a reduction in rates?' The total amount of rates collected each year is over £500,000. Notwithstanding bad times, now' is the time to commence asteady reduclion in rates. The burden is crushing', and citizens must obtain, soms relief at the earliest possible date. Bevenue from property has so fallen that many property owners cannot meet their rates or interest at due dates." A SERIOUS POSITION. In connection with the forthcoming elections the association says:—"lt is becoming increasingly difficult to persuade business men to offer for service in a. public capacity, and viewing the position from a local body standpoint, the situation, is a serious one. New Zealand has' a local body debt of over £76,000,000, a figure ' which compares very unfavourably with Great Britain, and even the United States of America. The figures per capita of the population are U.S.A., • £24; Great Britain, £27; New Zealand, £48—a comparison surely demanding the most earnest consideration of air thoughtful citizens. Men of wide experience must be urged to come forward, for well-thought-out plans for civic control are imperative. Unless the affairs of the city are prudently managed during the next few years it may be found that even maintenance will have to fall into arrears, for the burdens heaped . upon "the ratepayers have become intolerable."