BOROUGH WORKS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1923, Page 2

BOROUGH WORKS

HOW ARE THEY FINANCED? Works in the Borough and the financial position of the. Council were freely discussed at the annual meeting of tne Greymouth Ratepayers Association last evening, when members of the Borough Council were, present by invitation. The Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Council, Cr J. W. Greenslade reported that the revenue for the year was £37,000, and the expenditure for the first six months of the year was about half that amount, which excluded accounts. From that it would be seen that the council was jn danger of “over-running the constable.’’ Some departments had been over-expended, and others under-expended. Referring to the price, of gas, Cr. Greenslade said that gasworks were a fine, payable proposition. He produced the following statement of the financial state of the works: —

Receipts. —Sale of gas for. six months ended September 30, £7,201 11s 2d; sale of residuals, stoves and fittings, same period, £1,303 4s 8d; total, £8,504 lbs lOd. Expenditure.—Wages, maintenance, etc., same period, £5,735 4s sd; stoves and material, same period, £578 15s sd; total, £6,313 19s lOd. If the price of gas were reduced, however, the rates must go up, and they did not want the rates higher than they now were. But revenue must come from somewhere. At present there was only sufficient to carry on with. x Reporting on the efforts of the Committee to recover unpaid rates, Cr. Greenslade said that it had caused a great deal of trouble and the members regretted having to perform such an unpleasant duty. They had proceeded against everyone concerned without fear or favour.

Cr. Doogan said that the Council had always sued for the rates. This caused an elderly gentleman with a patriarchal beard, to interject that it had not.

“It has!’’ said Cr. Doogan. “It has not!’’ repeated the old gentleman, rising to his feet. “But I tell you it has!’’ continued Cr. Doogan. “No it hasn’t,” said the interjector. “Oh well,” said Cr. Doogan, “1 mean during the dast few years that I have been connected with the Council. I cannot go back to ancient history!” The President prevented a renewal of hostilities by reminding the old gentleman that Cr. Greenslade had the floor. Cr. Greenslade went on to explain that there were some poor people the Council had proceeded against who could not be turned out of their homes, but the rich people would be made to pay- Defaults were registered against the property and a transfer could not be affected unless the back rates were paid. “What is the outstanding revenue of the borough at the present time, approximately?” asked Mr Richardson. “About £3000,” said Mr Greenslade. Cr. O’Brien said that when he first entered the Council he thought lie was on trial (laughter), but if the Association was out to help the Council there was plenty of room for cooperation. There were certain aspects of the municipal position which appealed to him. Rates were high, but if they were not high work could not be done at all. About £7OOO had to be paid out annually in interest. The Council did as much as it could considering the fact that it was paying stich a huge sum in interest. The Council hoped to carry on satisfacorily, but there would not and could not be any quick changes, no matter who was in power. Cr. Williams, referring to the duties

of the Works Committee, said that there were all told 52 employees of the Council, and about £l,OOO was paid per month in wages and salaries. The Council was doing as much as it could with the money at its disposal. He agreed with the Mayor that what was wanted was a better community spirit. A lot of civic effort was nullified by the. wantonness of the unthinking portion of the community. Cr. F. A. Kitchingham, chairman of the Beautifying Committee, said that if the electors were slack and slovenly their representatives would be likewise, whereas if they were keen their representatives followed suit. Speaking on the gas question, Cr. Kitchinghain said that to take gas to Blaketown a loan would have to be raised. Loans had also to be raised for the purpose of draining the Kilgour Road locality, the District Health Officer having ordered this to be done, and other works also would require loans. The matter would go before the ratepayers, and he hoped the members of the Association would educate the public up to the necessity of carrying the poll. Work on the Council, said Cr. Kitchingham, was not all “beer and skittles.” In the collection of rates and enforcement of the building by-laws, the councillors had run up against some prominent people, and their experiences were not always pleasant.