THE PEOPLE'S COLUMN

Northern Advocate, 3 December 1921, Page 3

THE PEOPLE'S COLUMN

(Our columns are quite open to the public for the discussion of matters of public concern. We invite correspondence, but do not identify ourselves with the views expressed by our correspondents.—Ed.)

COUNTY FINANCE,

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Further in regard to the above matter and Mr McKenna's reply published in your issue of the Ist inst., I feel in duty bound t(j reply, not as a critic in any way of Mr McKenna's campaign in connection with the Manga.pui riding election, but more that the correct position may ibc given. Mr McKenna endeavours to reconcile figures quoted by the county chairman, Mr Jones, at a Council meeting held on November 5, 1920 (middle of the ibianeial year) and dealing with the estimates for the year 1920-1921, whereas the figures given by me and quoted by Mr McKenna are the actual figures as shown in the annual balance-sheet, as at March 31, 1921. iSurely it mu3t appear to most people that the foregoing ican be the only possible explanation, as the -chairman could not very well quote March 31, 1921, iigures on November 5, 1920. I was careful in my previous reply to qilote each financial year, and figures for that yoar only. Mr McKenna, in short, is mixing 19191920 .balanee-shcct figures with those of 1920-1921, and then trying to, favourably compare the result with the "estimated expenditure" figures of 19201921, and lie wonders why they do not reconcile. The following figures will serve to illustrate to what extent Mr McKenna lias got. astray:— r—t c; rH P ,5 J? O «§ sS § s s S 8 * r« I 5 O N aa> .3 £ rt £ ' r-l •*-'55 "1 s « a> « ? bo pq r-t- h >» pq £ £ £ Hospital and Charitable "Aid 3381 . 4790 4-790 Main Roads .... 498 2602 2353 Concrete Pipes .. 858 850 1153 Machinery C 44 900 4995 Transfer to Kidings 11,451 8702 G154 (The distinction should be noted between "Estimated expenditure, and balance-sheet (actual) expenditure.'') Mr McKenna in his reply gives the following comparative figures, which are repeated to show the more clearly how he has got adrift from the correct figures given above: — Main Roads. —Quoted by Mr Jones,

£2002; quoted by myself, £498. Machinery. —Quoted (by Mr Jones, £900; quoted by myself, £644. Total.—Quoted by Mr Jones, £3502; quoted by myself, £1142. "With regard to the expenditure of Government grants, Mr McKenna is evidently ignorant of the fact that the County Council expended the amount quoted (£11,496) and not the Public Works engineers, and that this item of expenditure is the second most impoitant branch of expenditure in the county. —I am, etc., H. C. HEMPHILL.