Feilding Borough Estimates Considered

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 110, 11 May 1945, Page 4

Feilding Borough Estimates Considered

BLIGHT INCREASE IN RATES SANCTIONED Last evening’s meeting of the Feilding Borough Council was confined to the consideration of the estimates for the current financial year, all other business being deferred, Clrs. expressing a desire that this should be done in view of the celebrations respecting the capitulation of Germany. The estimates stuted the Mayor (Mr. T. L. JSeddon) provided for an expenditure of £33,620 against estimated receipts amounting to £33,120. In addition to the usual expenditure the reserves committee had budgeted for shelters at Johnston Park and the cemetery at a total cost of £250, together with £l5O on tho proposed children’s playground and £6O for cost of repairs to the mower used on Kowliai Park. The works committee had provided for additional expenditure covering permanent sealing and road improvements most of which was done towards the end of the last financial year although it was not all paid for. Altogether the sum of £IOOO for street sealing and £SOO (of which £375 was recoverable from highways subsidy) had been carried forward in the current estimates. The sum of £250 being the council’s contribution towards the cost of sealing cemetery road had been budgeted for along with £SOO for water and sewerage to the land in Ilagitt Street on which a number of State houses were built. Awards governing local body outside employees wero to be adjusted and the indications were that increased rates of pay would be granted and to meet this £SOO had been provided. In addition a sum of £450 had been placed on the estimates to meet the salary for part of the year of a borough engineer which position the council had decided to fill. There is also the quea lion of meeting the rate for the Catch ment Board to provide for £4OO as the borough’s share of tho cost of administration. Mr. Seddon stated that the estimates provided for the carrying forward as a debit at the end of the year of a sum of £SOO although it was hoped that some of this may be overtaken during the year. The total rate for the current year would be 15 and 5-12ths d in tho £ compared with 14£d in the £ last year, plus the special Catchment Board rate of l-3rd d in the £.

Discussing the provisions made by* the Avorks committee Clr. P. G. Guy argued that the council should budget for a further £3OO to enable the employment of an additional man or two on the outside staff by Avay of assisting rehabilitation. “Thousands of men,” he said, ‘ ‘ Avould be coming back Avithin six months and the council should prepare to absorb some of the labour that xviil be offering,” he declared. He went on to contend that the council should not hang back” until a Government subsidy was offering to employ men. The Mayor intervened and stated that there had. been no mention of any subsidy during the discussion.' Clr. Guy explained that his reference to this was prompted by what had happened before when local bodies received a Government subsidy to assist employment and ho believed that local bodies should make preparation now to meet the matter of employing additional labour. It was tho duty of local bodies to employ returned servicemen.

Several Clrs. explained that tho works committee had gone fully into the question of employing returned servicemen Avhen major avotks Avere undertaken and there Avas no question as to the council not being concerned as to meeting, the position when the circumstances justified action. The council had prepared plans for rehabilitation works and these would have to be put in hand when materials and labour wqre available but the cost would be covered by loans and not out of ordinary revenue. Already the council had employed returned servicemen aud had taken at least two on the permanent staff so there was no question as to the council’s sincerity on this score. Clr. Guy moA'ed to amend the estimates by seeking provision for an additional £3OO in the works estimates but the proposal lapsed in the absence of a seconder and the estimates were finally approved as submitted and the requisite resolution carried levying the rates.