Westport Borough Council Finances

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1949, Page 8

Westport Borough Council Finances

Mr F. Morgan, Town Clerk, reported to Westport Borough Council at the ordinary meeting that the District Fund was showing a credit balance of £2883, as compared with £129 at the same period last year, an improvement of £2754. Receipts at £39,798 are up by over £5OOO, while payments at £37,389 are also up, but only by slightly over £2OOO, so that the position is well in hand. Payments on account of the current year’s rates amount to £14,087, representing 61.92 per cent., as compared with 60.86 at the same period last year, when the cash figure was £12,963. Arrears of rates collected during the six months amounted to £514, hs against £432 last year

The six main accounts, with 1948 figures in parentheses, are as follows: General (£2384 credit) £3760 credit; library (£220 debit) £294 debit); abattoir (£485 debit) £228 debit; gas supply (£1829 debit) £1646 debit; gas fittings (£212 credit) £520 credit; water supply (£67 credit) £771 credit; district fund (£129 credit) £2883 credit. When allowance is made for the proceeds of the sale of electric fittings, and for the Power Beard administration charge, together amounting to £865, the improvement in the general account Is sound, while that in the abattoir account is also good. The gas fittings account should continue to be satisfactory as long as the installing of cookers is on such a big scale, while the position of the gas supply account is for the first time for years showing an improvement, and with increased sales the new charge should continue to slowly get on its feet. The water supply account is showing its best balance for a considerable time, in spite of the fact that repair work has for some time now been carried out in all branches; revenue here has also shown improvement. Our only problem in accounts now is the library account, and even it has not gone back by as much as in past months, and with the decrease that has taken place in the price of books, more improvement may be looked for, consistent with the maintaining of a good supply of the wanted books.

The abattoir report for last month (with figures in parentheses for stock slaughtered in September, 1948) was: Cattle 83 (117); sheep 218 (218); pigs 18 (44); calves 7 (6). Fees £76 18s Id (£lO2 8s 2d).

Mr T. Sullivan (overseer) reported: Two motor crossings and one foot crossing have been, constructed, as well as renewals to two existing crossings. Two frontages have been prepared and are now ready for sealing. Repairs to streets and footpaths are proceeding. Six yards of chips and ten yards of gravel have been carted for asphalt, also fifteen yards of gravel to Webb Street, fifteen yards to repair non-sealed streets, and forty yards of sand for sealing. The cutting of grass on street flanks, as well as gorse and blackberries is under way. Three of our staff have been employed with the drainage department during the month. The painting of the Town Hall rof, store, workshops, grandstand, library roofs are all completed, and the painting of the abattoir roof is proceeding. Cartage for all departments has been carried out, as well as the general maintenance work in the borough. Waterworks: Repairs to No. 2 tunnel have been completed, and repairs to No. 4 are now proceeding. The library report recorded 1008 subscribers (increase 22'). Book issues: Fiction 1860; non-fiction 246; rentals 2022. Country Library Service: Fiction 281; non-liction 307. Subscriptions £22.

The gas manager. Mr J. McNally, reported for September: Tar made, 1300 gallons; coke made, 4C tons; gas made, 2,844,000 cubic feet. Eight gas cookers have been installed, as well as one twenty gallon gas hotwater service; and during the month nine new gas services have been laid, and nine new water services.

WHAT’S ON IN WESTPORT, St. James: Wed. 12„ Thurs. 13, Fri. 14: "Women in White.” Victoria: Thurs. 13: No screening.