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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 30 May 1914, Page 2

was put down for drainage, that fhe work would go on. He believed, that in a year or two the revenue would increase suiiieiently for them to meet expenditure out df revenue. If rates were once put up it might be a long- time hafore they were brought down. He was (|iiite prepared to admit that thesupervision of the Council's work wn.s not what it ought to be, and some alteration was necessary. Every Council employee should send, in a time sheet. The expenditure should be also watchedwith a little more care than had been tiie case in the past.

j In reply to Cr. Piper, the Town Clerk | said that the increased valuation for the | year would o|iial a 3d rate. [ Cr. Piper : Then w-e can easily do it.' Cr. Bishop said there was something radii-ally wrong when thev went some £2OOO to the bad in a year. The Mayor: Von are wrong. Continuing. Cr. Bishop said contingencies would have to be provided for. Cr. Piper had hit the nail on the head when he said that the Council had no svstem of carrying out its works. In I bringing down the estimates, the .same svsteir- should be followed as in any private business. The estimates should be carefully' considered and the essentials oillv left in. and then these, should be put into effect. A better svstem should 'be instituted between the Finance Committee. the Works Committee, and the Council.- He b-elieved that if the Engineer had carried mi all the works authorised it would have meant a 7s rate instead of a Is 7d one. He would support the recommendat icn of the Einancc Committee, as the streets -were ! not lit to i-id-e over. He agreed, how- ' ever, with the remarks of the Mayor in connection with the drainage. 'I he streets should not be robbed for the drainage, and the only way out of it. as far as he could see. was to rnis-e a drainage loan, which, however, he did not. think the ratepayers would authorise. Referring to the expenditure on .-public reserves, lie would like to see £IOOO spent on them, as they were one of Nelson s best assets, and the money spent should be looked upon as an investment. I'lie sum of £6OO was merely nothing, and the Queen's •Gardens alone was worth it He would also like to see more rronov spent oil the Botanical Reserve, I and he instanced what New Plymouth had done in connection with its reserves. The Increased rate was badly needed, as the t- vvn could not be kept going without money. "I here was -tin such tiling as standing si ill—we nwist either go back or ahead, and unless the place was pushed ahead and made attractive to visitors, they would not come.

The Mayor said he considered Nelson was the best-kept town in New Zealand. He agreed there should he mow supervision (.'n tin- work. and he was prepared to take his share of any blame in this direction. He repeated that he would not put any undue burden on the ratepayers without their consent.

HO\V THE JvATE FALLS. Cr. Haricy pointed cut that the ratepayers should know what any h;ci'-«?a*c in '.rates really amounted to. Wbh the proposed increase a man with .property of' the animal' value of £25 paid 4s 2d. £3O ss. £4O 6s Bd, £SO 8s 4d. And those of over £IOO could easily afford to pay. .Much as Cr. Wilkens would like to reduce the- rates, he considered such a course impossible. He would support the recommendation of the Finance Committee. Cr. Mercer said the Mayor ha<l stated that he could reduce the rates by 4d. YVhv was lie not logical' by reducing it by that amount? The Mayor: .There is no hope of •p;etting that passed. Cr. Robertson t supported the amendment. stating that he thought the estimated expenditure could be reduced to kee.p the rate' the same as last year. Tliev would have a considerable extent of non-recurring .expenditure this year. Between £3OO ''and £4GO would be required for the outfall sewer, and another thin.i; was the fence at the Park would come down the first bit; gale. This sort, of expenditure could not be helped. It came alo'ner each year, and had to be provided for. Cr. Webley said there was no reflection on the Engineer iri regard to the statements made about supervision. Cr. Piper had made a reflection on the Engineer. which was totally unwarranted. Ho (Cr. Webley) had watched things verv closely during the year, ami lie defied Cr. Piper to say where the Engineer had exceeded his 'authority. The Mayor's attitude in regard to endeavouring to reduce the rates put him in mind | of a builder who Was prepared to got a job at any price by cutting down. It was bad business and tommy rot. C-r. Bishop said" his remarks were most decidedly not a reflection on the Engineer. The Council had given the Engineer authority to spend the rates three or four times over. He (Cr. Bishop) would not take oil the Engineer's job for £IOOO a year. In his opinion, they did not consult the engineer enough. He had the greatest confidence it) Mr Littleiolm. Cr. Mercer was as much opposed to raising the rates as anyone, but lie believed it was more honest to raise them than raise the overdraft. .1 he Mayor had shown no' logical reason why the rates should be reduced. The Mayor : Yes I have. I could call a public meeting and prove it. Cr. Harlev iroved that the report be adopted. Seconded bv Cr. Wilkens. Cr. Hampson moved an amendment that the report be amended reducing the estimate for lighting by £4OO and diainage by £SOO, making the rate Is Yd. Seconded: by Cr. Webley. The amendment was ,put. - ve i. ' ' Crs. Robertson. Webley, Hampsi-n, Piper and tho Mayor. Noes (4) Crs. Wilkens, Bishop. Harlev, and Mercer Cr. liampso,-! men moved that the i£Jnort as amended be adopted. Seconded bv Cr. Webley and carried. Cr Harlev asked what was to be done with the £2900 worth of street work already authorised. Were they to be "-one on with or struck out. On the motion of Cr. Hampson the Citv Engineer was instructed to submit to the Vinan eo and Works Committees a list of the n:ost urgent works. The Council rose at 10.5 p.m. The' estimates as amended are as to10WSPROPOSED EXPENDITURE. £ s. d.

Office. charges (salaries and allowances chargeable to 'general; account)| 900 0 0 Lenal expenses, insurance, gas, stamps, etc. 375 0 Printing and Advertising _ 150 V U Streets and footways (including new plant, watering, cleaning, a ,1(1 maintenance 4000 0 0 Street lighting (including ;uitomatic lighters) 700 0 Drainago (including new drains and drainage maintenance), storm water, drain, and nightsoil and rubbish removal 1750 0 0 Places of - public recreation 600 0 0 Fire prevention 200 0 0 Other Expenditure — Interest on bank overdraft and loans 1600 0 0 Subsidy Nelson Institutes 190 0 0 Under Section 28. Public Revenues Act, 1913 100 0 0 Acquiring land in Maitai Valley for reore.ition purposes 300 0 0 Payment of purchase money and interest on land, Tasman street 160 0 0 General contingencies 300 0 0 Total £12,225 0 0 Moneys already available. —Mil.

ESTIM ATED RECEIPTS. Rents 60 0 0 Government subsidy 450 0 0 Licenses 1100 -0 0 L>9g registration 170 0 0" Xightsoil and rubbish 150 0 0 Rates not collected 0 0 Miscellaneous receipts 100 0 0 Gasworks interest on capital 850 0 0 3G45 0 0 Rate of ]-• 9d in the £ 8598 3 9 Total £12.243 3 9 Total rateable value of 'pro_oerl y on the valuation roll. £98.265. Hate thereon necessary to raise the a.iio;;iil rcouired, 1.- ?d in the £.