ROAD BOARD'S FINANCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22139, 19 June 1935, Page 7

ROAD BOARD'S FINANCES

REPLY TO CRITICISM POSITION AT MOUNT ROSKILL Exception to the recent criticism of the Mount Roskill Road Board's finances by the Local Government Loans Board was taken in a report submitted at a meeting of the Road Board last night. In refusing to sanction a proposal for a loan of £BSOO for the purpose of erecting municipal buildings the Loans Board referred to the Road Board's bank overdraft of £10,176 at March 31, 1934, and stated that the board should concentrate on improving its financial position. " A surplus of £6956 of cash balances and collectable revenue over liabilities, including the bank overdraft," stated the report, "was shown in the balancesheet of that date. It is considered advisable to remind the Loans Board that to a considerable extent the overdraft was a result of the Government's excursion into speculative building, through the State Advances Department, whose mortgagors have in niany eases not met their rating liabilities. " The board has in the past three years written off £1371 for irrecoverable rates on State and Crown properties in the district. The suggestion by the Loans Board that improved municipal office accommodation should be provided out of revenue is considered to impose the cost of creating a capital asset on the revenue of a single y eai j which is against the generally accepted principles of local body administration. It was decided to set up a special committee to bring the board's opinions to the notice of the local representative of the Loans Board. INCREASE IN SALARIES MEMBERS OF OFFICE STAFF A decision to increase the salaries of five members of the office staff of the board was reached at a meeting of the Mount Roskill Road Board last night. The total increase amounts to £62 a year. A lengthy discussion on the matter was taken in committee and the motion was finally carried by a substantial majority. __ _ The inspector, Mr. H. L. Jessop, reported that building permits of a total value of £4553 had been issued during the fortnight ended June 14. Eleven buildings are in the course of erection in the district. ■ Advice,r.was received from the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board that the Road Board's contribution for the current year was £254, an increase of £9 compared with that of last year. It was decided that nil the members of the board should attend the meeting of local bodies at which Mr. H. H. Watkins, engineer to the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board, will outline I the proposed comprehensive drainage | scheme.