MAYOR GIVES ACCOUNT OF HIS STEWARDSHIP

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6887, 17 April 1929, Page 8

MAYOR GIVES ACCOUNT OF HIS STEWARDSHIP

Two Years of Progress WISE ADMINISTRATION BY PRESENT COUNCIL Before a small audience of between 60 and 70 ratepayers at the Opera House last evening, the Mayor (Mr. A. J. Graham) reviewed the work carried out in the Palmerston North bomugh during the past year and spoke in justification of the Council’s policies. Mr. \V. F. Dunvard was in the chair.

Economy and Efficiency. The Mayor stated that during tho past two years quiet but steady, progress had marked tne activities of tho municipality and the. achieved would, he thought, demonstrate in no uncertain way, that the affairs of the borough Lad been efficiently and economically administered. The aim of the Council had been strictly to perform its administrative duties in the interests of the borough as a whole and to concentrate its efforts for the common good. No works 'of very great magnitude had engaged attention during the period" under review, principal activities being in connection with sewerage and water reticulation, the maintenance of streets and footways generally, and the fuller development of trading departments. Money had been exjiended only on what was considered necessary for the efficient working of a progressive borough. Palmerston North had prospered greatly durinp Tecent years and was generally recognised as being the really model town of the Dominion as well as the most important one. It had been described by visitors as being the most important town in Australasia and despite the fact that during the past two years tho Dominion had been passing through a period of financial and economic depression, Palmerston North had con tinued to forgo ahead. Building activities had been very much in evidence. Since 1927, 272 dwellings had been erected (value £253,618), bringing the estimated number of dwellings iu Palmerston North to-day up to 4575. Permits ishued for alterations and additions to houses numbered 370 (£29,679 10s), for new business premises 55 (£174,877), for alterations and additions to business promises 104 (£23,608). Other buildings to the number of 11 were erected at a cost of £63,449, while alterations and additions to 15 others were effected at a cost of £4625. The large sum of £531,916 10,s represented the value of the 827 permits issued during the past two years and was eloquent testimony to the progressive nature of tho town. The estimated population was 19,775 (April, 1929) according to the Government statistician. Finance.

Before dealing with the financial position as disclosed at the end of March last, the Mayor stated that his two years of office had been exceedingly difficult ones. Owing to the exceptionally bad weather conditions, a good deal of road work had to be undertaken in excess of what had been anticipated, while tho necessity of providing work for the unemployed entailed further heavy expenditure. In connection with the latter, a loan of £3OOO was raised, while over £BOO was subscribed by the people of Palmerston North in responso"to his appeal for funds. A good deal of construction work was done in connection with footways, including kerbing and channelling. Much of this was proceeded with in the winter months. It was not a class of work usually performed when weather conditions w erc bad, but it was the only possiblo way in wlic.h they could find work for the large number of unemployed. Tho Mayor’s relief fund subsidised by the government provided further work in the laying out and preparing of the botanical gardens at a cost of £1234.

“Btfforo passing from the subject of unemployment may I be permitted to say that I think I can fairly claim to have successfully grappled with the exceedingly difficult problem presented to me right at the commencement of my term as Mayor,” stated Mr. Graham to applause. The operations of tho year ending March, 1928 resulted in a small credit balance in the general account of £125 17s 2d. With such a slender cash bal ance it was found necessary slightly to increase the rate to enable the council to meet annual fixed charges and inake provision for works that wore urgently necessary. ’llif- total rates collected amounted to £79,898 10s. Or the total number of ratepayers on the roll (4073) 131 failed to meet their obligations in full, in coiwcciuenee of which the sum of £844 9s was unoeolccted. Since April Ist £79 10s 6d had been paid, the amount now outstanding being £764 18s 6d and it was fully I anticipated that the greater portion of this amount would be paid during the current year. The actual rate per head of population could not be considered excessive, in view of all that had been i accomplished in the development from virgin bush and swamps to a flourishing town, replete with almost every modern facility and civic amenity, and accomplished in tho comparatively short period of 50 years. No Increase in Rates. “I can almost definitely say that ►there will be no increase in the general rate this year.” stated the Mayor amidst applause. “Further, there is the interest account sufficient to meet the borough’s obligations in respect of loans raised during the last two years.” The general account which was the principal account controlled by the Council, derived from revenue £61,658 17s sd. Expenditure amounted to £58,147 13s lid. The year closed with a substantial credit of £3636 10s Bd, which sum included an amount of £6:. , 1 2s lid held in trust on account of

heavy traffic fees. The fotal cash balance to credit on all accounts in the district fund account was £9716 7s. The operations of the present Council during the past two years had increased the cash balance by approximately £IOOO. The indebtedness of the borough had increased very considerably sinco pre-war days, the liability now being £9442,345. As a set off against this large liability the Council had accrued sinking funds invested with the Public Trustee amounting to £SO,795, and assets in lands, buildings, plant etc., to tho value of £830,002. The capital value of property within the Borough jtvas £6,980,764. Gas Account. The revenue for the year from gas amounted to £16,103 13s 7dj an increase of £1286 3s over the previous year. The expenditure totalled £48,340 17s 2d (£2951 17s 5d in excess of 1925). Included in this was capital expenditure of £3430 for cookers and £2500 for extra coal now being held in stock. Tuo payments for cookers under the hire system for the year amounted to £1.607.' The gas and electric undertakings were now one department, the effect of which would be not only to leduce overhead charges but to check undue competition between the two departments. The deficit? on the. year’s working amounted to £SSOO, but fortunately the electrical department was in a position to reinburse the gas account to tho extent of its debit, otherwise it would have been necessary to strike a special rate of at least threefifths of a penny in the £ to provide the amount required. At the close of the year’s operations the account was in credit only to tho extent of £3Ol 10s 7d. The annual payment of a little under £II.OOO each year to meet interest and sinking fund on loan indebtedness was a heavy departmental burden, Tepresenting as it did more than onethird of tho amount received for the sale of gas. Electricity.

The electricity department gave ample evidence of its growth and prosperity. It was the largest undertaking under the Council’s control and easily the best asset the ratepayers possessed. The receipts for the year were £55,637 6s 6d, an increase of £8458 5s 4d over the previous year. The expenditure totalled £54,170 17s 4d compared with £45,471 13s 7d for 1927-2 S. In order to provide for depreciation and obviate the raising of further loans,, a renewal fund hhd been established, for the year ending 1928 a sum of £2OOO was invested and this year a further sum of £2OOO was placed to the credit of the renewal fund account. On March 31 last, the value of the renewal fund account stood at £4152 6s 9d. Commencing the year with a credit balance of £1152 15» 5d it now had a credit of £2619 5s 7d. Abattoir. The abattoir department -was now making good headway, interest and sinking fund charges now being met out of ordinary revenue. The present Council had' reduced tho debit balance of £3728 4s, which existed on April. 1927 by £SO9 ISs sd. The debit balance carried forward on March 31, 1921* ■was £2918 5s- 7d. The revenue was £14,346 4s 2d and expenditure £13,856 lls 2d. As an offset to the debit, the department had on hand on March 31 tallow to the value of £582. Reserves.

At the beginning of the financial year the balance to credit of reserves accoiiht w’as £4-19 6s Bd. Such portion of reserves as were not in use might be leased by the council and the revenue derived from this source devoted to tho maintenance and improvement of existing parks and playing areas. Revenue amounted to £3848 3s 3d and the expenditure to £3978 8s lOd. The account finished the year ivith a erpdit balance of £319 Is Id. The Buses. It was satisfactory to note that the receipts from bus fares showed an increase of £365 3s 5d over 1927-28. The total revenue was £9852 8s 4d. The expenditure reached £19,116 12s lid, ex cceding the revenue bv £264 4s 7d. The excess of expenditure over revenue was accounted for principally by the payment of heavy traffic foes, amounting to £420 12s 2d. Although the revenue derived each year was insufficient to meet interest and sinking fund on the loan indebtedness, it was very satisfactory to note that the account was able to meet ordinary running and trnffic charges. The account carried forward a credit of £47S Is 3d. Waterworks. The waterworks account credit balance on April 1, 1928 was £546 3s lOd. Revenue amounted to £.15,574 Is lid, expenditure to £15,097 9s 6d, cleaning dam to £3059 4s 6d. and extension of mains to £2484 12s 4d. a credit of £1022 6s 3d was available for allocation next year. Library.

This department, said ihe Mayor, bad a credit on April 1, 1928 of £7B 2s sd. The receipts from rates, subscriptions and sale of books amounted to £1636 18s 7d. The expenditure was £1535 3s lid. A sum of £179 17s Id represented the present credit balanco. The following accounts, all of which

formed part of the district fuml ac- I count, are in credit: —Opera House, £1793 275; sanitary, £579 16s 7d; insur- I ancc, £OOS 3s 7d (apart from £1590 on | fixed denosit); housing account, £353 13s lOd. ‘ Loans raised during last two years are as follow:—Unemployment loan, £3OOO at 6 per cent; college loan, £lO.000 at ,V; per cent; sewer loan, £9OOO at 51 j>er <■ : library loan, £II,OOO at 51 per cent. ' The fact that the unemployment, college and library Joans were raised locally served to indicate tl at the credit of the borough stood high with local investors. Sewerage. j The proposal for raising £16,000 for j the purpose of sewering the western ; portion of the borough was carried on February 15, 1928. Following this, a contract was let to tho Stevenage Construction Co. which commenced operations on July 2. 1928, and completed the work on March 4, 1929, at a total cost of £2SO7 13s 2d. A further contract for a total length oj. two and a half milc3 of sewers was let to Messrs Quigan and Rush, amounting to £2947 10s. Work was commenced on February 18 and to the end of the month, 33 chains of 15 inch pipos were laid. The contractors had made good progress on this work.

Under the lone, provision was made for the relaying of Ferguson street sewmr, between Botanical road and Mo Giffert street, owing to the frequent collapses of the present sewer. The council had authorised portion of this work to be done, and to date a length of eight and a half chains of IS inch pipes had been laid. Silt from Reservoir. The Mayor outlined the work done in connection with the removal of silt from the intake at Tiritea. It was unfortunate in connection with the pipe line between the new weir and main dam. that practically double the length allowed for had to be laid with new piping. This was a section of the work w'itli which no, risks could be taken, as the whole town would be dependent on this pipe for its supply. By November 15, 20,000 cubic yards had been discharged and as the stream flow was diminishing rapidly work was stoppei and the scour pipe made secure.. It could be stated . without fear of contradiction that the work so far carried out had been absolutely successful. The Streets. The increase of motor traffic in recent years had made it imperative that a good deal of attention should be paid to streets (66 miles —20J miles bitumen surface, 45§ gravel or metal roads.) Their adequate maintendance involved such heavy expenditure ./that little or no money was available for footway maintenance, and in this respect those who had to traverse tho footways had to suffer a great deal of inconvenience, for the footways were literally starved, and two years ago, were really in an extremely deplorable condition. Although the present council had expended a large sum of money in effecting improvements, much still remained to be done, and could only be done year by year as the finances permitted. With the funds now available (and with the roads generally in a good condition )the incoming council would be able to allocate a considerable sum of money to make the rough places smooth, and materially add to the comfort of pedestrians generally. Water.

There could be no question that tho present position of the town water supply—more particularly with regard to reticulation and filtration —would have to be immediately taken in hand by the incoming council. The possibility of augmenting the preseit supply sufficiently to meet all demands for the next few years from artesian sources would in all probability be considered by the council at its final meeting next Monday evening, when the report of the consulting engineer was expected to be tabled. It therefore remained to be seen whether particularly good and sufficient reasons would be forthcoming to justify the council in abandoning proposals hitherto formulated to provide an adequate and uniformly good supply of water to all parts of the town, that would suffice for many years to come, in favour of the augmentation of our present supply by the use of artesian water. The Mayor trusted that the ratepayers "would end "the long stern chase” by heartily endorsing whatever proposals were submitted to them. Prospective Works. & The programme of works for the next two years, to be considered by the new council should comprise: (1) Surfacing of Campbell street (which is a bus route) with bitumen; (2) completion of Ferguson street west (between West street and Botanical road); (3) surfacing with bitumen a further portion of College street east in the vicinity of the school; (4) treatment with local tar, bus routes at Terraco End in order to minimise tho dust nuisance; (5) stormwater drain College street west; (6)replacemcnt of old wooden korking as far as finances will permit; (7) new bridge over Mangaone in Boundary road. Loan Proposals.

The only loan proposals likely to be submitted during tho next two years would bo in connection with the muchneeded improvement of the water supply, and for the erection of a new bridge over the Manawatu. The present structure was over 50 years old and should be replaced as early as possible by a more modern structure. Honest Endeavour. "During the past two years my aim has been to efficiently, economically and honourably administer the affairs of the borough,” said tho Mayor in conclusion. "I venture to say that a careful study of the facts and figures placed before you will convince every fair-minded person that the financial position of the borough is very sound and that the present council has administered wisely and well. We have been privileged to serve you, and m serving you, have fully realised that the price of privilege is responsibility. I would that all who enjoy the benefits of citizenship in this highly favoured town would realise fully that citizenship is“tho essence of life and service the essence of citizenship, and by loyal co-operation exhibit that community

spirit that will give greater impetus the wheels of progress. ’ ’ Question Time. In answer to a question, tho Mayor stated that ho had never refused to give details of the expenditure of money subscribed for unemployment relief. The money had been paid direct into the geneyol fund and administered therefrom. Mr/R. V. Mason asked if the Mayor had voted in favour .or against Cr. Mansford’s artesian water scheme. Tho Mayor stated that ho had an open mind on tho artesian question. He was awaiting the report of the consulting engineers, but at best, he thought an artesian scheme could bo only an augmentation of the main supply. Mr W. F. Cutler expressed the opinion that it would be easier on the ratepayers if they were allowed to pay their rates half-yearly, with a rebate for so doing. The Mayor replied that before anything could be taken off, it would first have to be added on. In any case, the council was very considerate in cases of hardship and would receive payments on account. The ratepayers had been very good and last year interest on overdraft had amounted to the "huge” sum of 6/6. To Mr R. V. Mason, the Mayor said i the question of relieving traffic congestion in the Square would be reconsid-

ered, now that the railway deviation was definitely off. The Mayor was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Messrs H. G. Ram and F. W. Hubbard. In reply, tho Mayor stated that ho was seeking re-election in order to see finalised a number of the works in hand, especially the water problem; and also to satisfy a desire to be Mayor when the town reached tho status of' a city. (Applause.)