FOXTON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 268, 12 October 1932, Page 4

FOXTON

(From Our Own Correspondent.) FOXTON, Oct. 11. The monthly meeting of the Foxton Borough Council was licit! last night, being presided over by the Mayor (Mr M. E. Perreau). Accounts amounting to £642 3s were passed for payment. The question of a local resident being allowed to sell fish from a stand in Alain Street was raised by Cr. Harvey, and this opened up a considerable discussion on itinerant, hawking. Cr. Harvey was of the opinion that tho council should prevent hawking of any description in the business area. Hie clerk quoted authorities to slioiv that the council could not refuse a hawker's licenso to any one of good character and could not prevent the hawking of goods in Alain Street provided the hawker did not stop in the one place. It was decided to refer the matter to the traffic inspector witli, instructions to see that all hawkers in Main Street are kept moving. It was decided to open the swimming baths forthwith. Cr. Cowley referred to the fire menace constituted by the old Council Chambers building in Liddell Street and ttgred that some steps lie token to have it removed. The clerk said the building was uninhabitable and of no commercial value. It had been condemned, but the council had no power to compel the owner to pull it down. He read correspondence between the council and the owners on the subject. Correspondence was received from the Prime Alinister acknowledging receipt of the council's protest against the publication outside of Now Zealand of detrimental press reports, and pointing out tlia.t every precaution to see that fair and accurate reports were reaching outeido papers wus being taken by the Government. Notification of the date of the next Alunicipal Conference was received and it was decided to forward a remit urging the raising of itinerant hawkers’ fees. Tho position of the council was carefully

investigated at tho meeting. The Mavor had announced at a previous meeting tliat ho intended to hffect some wide, sweeping economies at the end of tlie half-yearly jjoriod and his action in overhauling" the finances was not unexpected. He submitted a lengthy statement which was read to councillors by the clerk. It stated, inter alia, that the overdraft in tho District Fund Account at 30th September, 1932, was £3676, as against £3314 at 30th September, 1931. These figures showed clearly that the borough was being financed very considerably by the bank at a cost of between four and five pounds a week, due almost entirely to uncollected revenue, principally in the form of rates, the Mayor said. Rates outstanding at 31st March, 1932. amounted to £3843, of which £723 had been collected since that date, while of the current rates | £2918 had been collected, leaving practicI ally the same amount outstanding, so that, at tho. present time there was in all about £6OOO in rates outstanding. In order to emphasise the seriousness of this position tho Mayor stated that payments requiring to be met out of rates and over which the council had practically no control totalled £4209, and this did not include maintenance of waterworks, reticulation, and sewers, about £200; electricity for pumping £l9O, and maintenance of roads, streets and footpaths £750, making about -£5349. Tn all the interest bill annual was just over £4OOO and only a small portion of this was subject to the 10 per cent, rebate given under the National Expenditure Adjustment Act. One of the contributing factors to tlm large overdraft was the gasworks which was proving a very expensive undertaking. He could not see that, any great economies could be effected in the works. However, the telephone could he dispensed with and ho recommended accordingly. The Mayor recommended economics in wages of £231 3s 4d. Of this amount £IOO 6s was in respect of offico salaries, tile remaining £l3O 18s 4d being spread over six employees. He confessed that theso reductions were much regretted hut that they had been postponed ns long as reasonably possible. Although tho council had no power itself to do so, he had reduced his honorarium by 12i per cent, in common with the borough employees. The Mayor said that he had gone very fully into the matter and did not like having to suggest the action contained in his report but there was no other alternative.

After a full discussion it was decided to ndont the report.