MUNICIPAL EXPENSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17546, 11 August 1920, Page 6

MUNICIPAL EXPENSES.

CHRISTCHURCH INCREASES. NEED FOR RAISING RATES. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN COBBESPOMJENT.] CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday. At a special meeting of the City Council the estimates for the year were considered. The chairman of the Finance Committee would be compelled to increase the rates of the city as a whole by £16,678, made up as follows:—lncrease in general rate, bringing rate an to the maximum £8833; increase in hospital and charitable aid rate, £3271 increase in water rates, £2552; ' increase in sanitation fees, £1021. In that connection, he said, it was interesting to note how the overdraft of the city had grown during the last few years. At the end of March, 1918, the overdraft was £37,756; March, 1919, £38,943; March, 1920, £57,322; and March, 1921, £65,308. It was also interesting to note how the • deficit had been built up. On the general account for 1917-18 the wages paid by the city in all its departments were £28,394, in 1918-19 the total was £33,596, and, in 1919-20 £43,455. That largely explained why the overdraft had been increased. It bad been increased through the increased wages the city had to pay, and also as a result of the increased cost of materials. In addition, there was the war pay, which should be added to the total amount paid in wages. In spite of all the economy the committee had endeavoured to institute, the overdraft this year would go up over*£Bo,ooo.