GREYMOUTH BOROUGH FINANCES REVIEWED

Grey River Argus, 23 April 1948, Page 3

GREYMOUTH BOROUGH FINANCES REVIEWED

Debt $ll,OOO Less

The financial position of the borough of Greymouth was briefly reviewed at last night’s meeting of the Council. The figures, it was stated' by the Mayor, Mr F. F. Boustridge, although they appeared on paper to show a bad position, were very favourable.

The debit balance at the bank was £6632. This was reduced, by £3696 cash in hand, to £2936 —or very near to the estimated overdraft of £2972. This, said Mr Boustridge, was favourable. Cheques outstanding amouning to* £1205 on March 31, as well as £1712 in accounts passed for payment after March 31. affected the position. Amounts totalling £1159 accrued as a loss in the Town Hall fire, and rate subsidy not paid and due before March 31 added to the book fiqure £6632. BOROUGH DEBT £86,313

The gross indebtedness of the borough as at March 31. 1947, was £100,705. He said that during the last financial year this was lowered by £11,220 to £89,484 17s. This amount less sinking fund accrued as at March 31, 1948, left a net indebtedness at the end of the 1947-48 financial year of £86.313. Funded monies held by the norough Council as at March 31, 1948, totalled £9721 17s 6d. This amount was made up as follows: — Motor vehicles £925 15s 10d; works machinery £2113 6s; public conveniences £750; Soring Street access £2'oo; town clock £1000; town Jtall and caretakers’ quarters £4632 15s 8d; Liberty Loan from district fund account £100; total £9721 17s 6d.

NEED TO REFUND Although the book figures placed the borough in great, debt, he said, in actual fact Greymouth had done well, and indebtedness was at the lowest it Had been for some years. The estimates for the coming year were expected to be .presented at the next Council meeting. He said that the extent of their loans that are to mature during the next few years would, however, leave no room lor easing up the linancial position. Of the abattoir loan of 1’5065, one portion, £2550, matured on February 1. and the other portion, £2515, would mature on February 2 next. Of the town improvement loan, £4OOO matured on’ September 10 of this year, Ihe balance of £2OOO maturing on September 10, 1950. Of the Cobden water supply loan, £7OO advanced by the State Advances Department had matured on April 1 last.

METHODS OF KILLING ANIMALS Methods used in the slaughtering of beasts at the Grey Municipal Abattoirs were outlined by its manager, Mr D. S. Binnie, to the Greymouth Borough Council last evening. Mr Binnie provided the information in view of a survey being made by the R.S.P.C.A. relative to the. methods of slaughter used in abattoirs and slaughter-houses in New Zealand for the purpose of introducing humane killings. A method of pithing was used_with cattle, reported Air Binnie. By means of a chisel tjpe spear the spinal cord was severed directly behind the head. Bleeding was then carried out in the usual manner. Tne tnroats of sheep are severed together with the breaking of the neck and the severing of the spinal cord. Pigs are first stunned by a blow on the head with a hammer and then bled, while c./«ei lhe large majority of which are of a fair size are treated in the same manner as cattle. Smaller ones are stunned with a hammer before bleeding. The letter was received.

FIRE DANGER

The Greymouth Fire Board wrote pointing out that, numerous scrub and rubbish fires which had occurred recently. necessitated the attention of the brigade. One of these was adjacent 'to the abattoir fence which was covered in gorse and lupin and required a fire break. The matter was left to the engineer to deal with. Griffen and Smith Ltd., wrote requesting that a traffic free area be created outside a state leading on Herbert Street to their yard. Cars from patrons of the Regent Theatre often were parked across the gateway and- this would create a great hindrance in case of fire. This was referred to the Transport Department. DRIVERS’ LICENCE REGISTER The Transport Department notified thai 'owing to staffing and accommodation difficulties, work had been suspended on the National Register of Drivers’ Licences which, was commenced last year. It was therefore no longer necessarv for local authorities io send in copies of drivers’ licences issued by them. There was no prospect of resuming the work in either this year or in 1949.--Re-ceived.