COUNTY FINANCES

Grey River Argus, Volume 05, 5 July 1917, Page 3

COUNTY FINANCES

DISCUSSION ON ECONOMY.

Gr. Ryder moved at yesterday ' 3 'meeting of the Grey County Council: "That a committee of the whole couri- , cil be setu p to consider the financial position of the council, with a viewto economy-'' ; ■.-• . , In speaking to his motion, Cr/Ttydec. said that he considered the financial position of the council was certainly serious, if not alarming. It was gradually drifting, and the council should go into committee to consider the position. He thought they might decide to retrench a little. The expenditure had exceeded the receipts by £000 in nine months, and this included the 31st March, which was the last month, of the financial year. { The Chairman stated that the big quarter was the June quarter* as atl . publicans' licenses came in during that period. Cr. Eydcr, continuing, said that there were a few things he intended to say, but he would say them, in committee. ' The expenditure could be re? dueed, viz., the Chairman's allowance "could be cut down by half, and members ' travelling expenses brought to a minimum. The council could also meet quarterly. It was their duty to maintain roads and bridges. The council I had gone back £5000 in six years. No doubt they had had bad seasons; but the last two seasons had been good and the council should not have spent £600 more than it had rer ccived. ; It was this that had prompted him to bring forward the motion. Cr. Ryall, in seconding the motion, said tfiat he did not think tlie posii (ion was as bad as Cr. Eyder made tout. There was over £1000 in timber royalties' yet to collect. .\The Chairman said that there could onlY frc retrenchment of the staff, and it infant that they would have to go into departmental affairs, as that was the onl^L -place they could probably reduce. /\ Cr. BayDPutt said that he could not see eye -to *§Y e with Cr. Ryder. The position of tneV council was exception^ ally good. Wc^en the council was spending money lit adding to its revenue. The licensing fees amounted to £(500, and Cr. Rj\der's ideas of finance were imaginar^y- The overdraft was only £5000, a\d if the council did, pay a little interest and get into debt through works,' etc^-i&w a 8 adding to its revenue all the timec^ giving access to the back-blocks. "V Cr. Ryder: What is the overdraft? \ The Chairman: On ; the 31st March . it was £6170. The difference" in five years was £2000, not £5000, as Cr. Ryder had stated. , Cr. Ryder: I want the liabilities. The Chairman: The liability" this year outside of the bank was £2100. The total liabilities . to-day are £9489 19s. Od. / . Cr. Ryder maintained that the council had spent £700 more this < year, ending 31st March, than it had received. The Chairman stated that-tne council was £000 worse off this year than at the 31st March last year; but the council had only gone back £825 in five years, not £5000. Cr. Ryder skid that there was a -liability of £1300, which the .council jnight be asked for at any time, on . the buildings. This money had been ear-marked and , then used. The Chairman satisfactorily explained . thj)^qs.ition_as to th.o nioiu^^^u?^. on the buildings. WH^^^^^HH Cr. Ryder stated tb^^^^^^^^H that there was no vbj^^^^^^^^^^^k cil going into coj^^^^^^^^^^^^^^l turc the timbe^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H He could noj^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H came about j^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^l by the Chpjj^^^^^^^^^^^^^H through jiH^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H sidered^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^l cil t^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^M tli e^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H late^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H ucco^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H befdr^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^f bnnk'e^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H He di^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^l The voices^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^J ■ - . Like- th^^^^^^^^^^^^^H the aonkev me oaDmei^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H side danKies:7^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H number, or aspi^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H ucii-iniornied , <|^^^^^^^^^^^^^H remain expectan^|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| time. The leader c^^^^^^^^^^^^f ty is not in a huril^^^^^^^^^^H tioii. for. he is as vet tile state of affairs. r^^^^^^^^^^| prospective position wc^^^^^^^^^^H often used to keep (xoj^^^^^^^^^^^M hayiour all the men^^^^^^^^^^^H their hearts, that j^^^^^^^^^^^^f succeed t oit. Quite . half a Libei-al side are P r^^^^^^^^^^^^| eg-ory, ttiou^h thej^^^^^^^^^^^f gun to count out j^^^^^^^^^^^H once nost favourite cause his symptoms are pronounced. W^^^^^^^^^^^^J his little, •'bombhell ship it was felt tna^^^^^^^^^^H er be .^Ecli'|:ed !tp s^^^^^^^^^H Cabinet as the Hion. -^^^^^^^^^^1 'but if *the Attorney-G^^^^^^^^H the haven he is said to^^^^^^^^^| ins, this difficulty will '-^^^^^^^^^| . Sir Joseph Ward befo/t^^^^^^^^H on the new Minister w^^^^^^^H pay attention to the Tepei^^^^^^^H tion thflt, his Liberal 9Q^^^^^^^^| the Cabinet have ' not b^^^^^^^H well together. . ; - y^^^^^^^B During the war bargains 'a;MP!^Rj^^ getj but Aye have secured '5S exceptional one from the KaiapM Woollen Co., which consists of 125 Ladi^* $ Tweed and Gabardine Costumes. Thiftiii. lot was purchased at one price;jt|4 '^/tyj^ Come' in early and get these i: costumes are tailor.-mad«ijy^eKii'-: cut, newest "styles, silk-line^ ■ usual price 70/- to 95/-^A3^i^^^v Ltd., th© Wr*lesale Draper^^i^p^v| Boot Importeii and House G-reyinoutb. '^n| Wellington.— A:dv;j^>£jJ! For (pnildre^'B packing -€opgb^jgj||ij^^- ;: