MOUNT EDEN FINANCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22708, 21 April 1937, Page 15

MOUNT EDEN FINANCES

THE POSITION REVIEWED BOROUGH'S DEBIT BALANCE Hopes that the debit balance of the borough could he decreased each year were expressed by the Mayor, Mr". T. McXab. at a meeting of the Mount Kden Borough Council last night, when the financial position of the borough for the year was being reviewed. Rates collected had totalled £69,011, which was 87 per cent of the amount struck, and the net position of the accounts was £1341 better than last year. The debit balance of the general account had been reduced to £18,525. During the year the waterworks account had, for the first time, borne its own interest and sinking fund charges, the collection of water rates and charges exceeding the previous vear's amountby £909. A flat rate of 7s 6d for rubbish removal had produced £1594, the report continued, the cost of the collection being £1320, thus leaving a credit balance of £274. This year the contract price for collection had been increased In- £2OO.

A recommendation by the Works Committee that the outside staff should be placed 011 a 40-hour five-day week was adopted. It was also decided that the office staff should, except in an emergency, work a five-day week as from next Monday. The council's delegate to the municipal conference held at Timaru recently, Mr. K. N. Buttle, presented a report of proceedings. The two remits proposed by the Mount Eden Council, one suggesting that no rate remissions should l>e allowed where owners had made no reasonable efforts to let their properties, and the other, proposing that local bodies should be financed by the Reserve Bank on the same terms as provided for the State, were carried bv the conference.

TRAFFIC FEES AND CONTROL OPPOSITION TO NEW SCHEME "We are going to lose a lot of money if this scheme is brought about." said the Mayor of Mount Eden, Mr. T. McNab, last night, when proposals from the Transport Department were under discussion. The proposals were that after May 31, 1938, drivers' licences were to be issued by post offices; cities and boroughs over 6000 in population were to control their own traffic and receive 40 per cent of fees on a population basis; and traffic enforcement districts might be formed, any city or borough to be appointed the sole authority in a district and to take all the fees for that district. Strong objection to the final clause was taken by the council and a motion opposing it was passed. "If this proposal becomes law it Mill mean another |d to the ratepayers," added the Mayor.