CITY SURPLUS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 75, 29 March 1934, Page 10

CITY SURPLUS

COMMENT BY MAYOR

RATES BEFORE ESTIMATES

ESSENTIAL WORKS FIRST

"I am not in accord with the sug: gestion made by the chairman of the Ratepayers'' Association that a definite reduction in rales should be made before consideration is given to what are the essential requirements of the, city," remarked the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) to a "Post reporter, "Surely provision must in the first instance be made for.all the essential services, maintenance, and nccessarvworks, and then,, when this is done, the .juestion will arise as to what should be done with any estimated surplus. I think that even the chairman of the executive of the Ratepayers' Association Would be inclined to object if we cut down the rates before makingN certain that provision had been made for the removal of refuse from his house, -for lighting the streets, keeping them clean, maintaining the water.. supply, and being in a position to carry out works that are^essentiall It seems to me to be quite incorrect to suggest that a definite fixed percentage of reduction in rates should be decided upon before giving consideration to these essential services. : MThe object of referring the estimates back to the various committees." said Mr. Hislop, "was to "see whether, after they had gone through them carefully again with a. view to providing for essential services, maintenSnceV and necessary works—somewhere on the basis of last year's figurcs-^they 'might be able to make funds available to ?jvell the estimated general surplus for the forthcoming year. Once/that figure has been ascertained,- the council can decide what should be done With that money. It is then' that the 'question, will arise of rates reduction, c salaries restoration, or employment of more men in necessary and economic work' ' /^'^ Uld su^est that'the chairnian o± the Ketapayers' Association' should hold his thunder until the matter is ripe for^ebate. In liis interview -with, the Press ho talks as though the council was actually spending under . the heading of controllable expenditure at ™as much as was spent in 1929 and 1930. He must know that he is entirely incorrect. The amount available for general expenditure, was at leasf 30 to 40 per cent, below what it then -was.''