WELLINGTON RATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23068, 20 June 1938, Page 13

WELLINGTON RATES

REASONS FOR INCREASE ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Saturday Wellington .rates this yqar have been increased by id in the pound on the value of all property, other than exempted property, held by the Government, which has a considerable holding in Wellington and pays only some special rates. When interviewed yesterday, the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, stated that the farthing increase only meant the raising of an extra £IB,OOO, a sum which did not nearly represent the extra expenditure the City Corporation had to face during the current financial year; but it was confidently anticipated that the rest would be met out of revenue. "In the first instance there are certain additional charges over which neither the city council nor its officers have any control," said Mr. Hislop. "These include some £7673 for the Wellington Hospital Board and £4OOO for the Wellington Fire Board. They simply make their allocations, and we have to meet them.

" In addition, there is the sum of about £6OOO for sinking fund and interest; and another sum of £3125, being the Inst payment on account of the shares the city council has taken up in the Centennial Exhibition Company. Then on top of that £3750 has to be found to cover the cost of the recent municipal elections; a payment of £3069 is required on account of the new public library contract account; and £4OOO has to be found by the city council for part of the cost of reconditioning Waterloo Quay. "I have not mentioned something like £IB,OOO that will have to be found for the new road and footpath works in connection with the approaches to the exhibition.

"Taking into nccount all these sums I have mentioned, something like an additional £50,000 has to be met, but we are only rating on an extra £IB,OOO, so that I think you will see that the council is exercising reasonable economy."