£30 PER HEAD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8740, 23 May 1914, Page 5

£3O PER HEAD

WELLINGTON’S INDEBTEDNESS COMPARED TO OTHER CENTRES. Some interesting figures wore supplied to a “Times” reporter yesterday by the Mayor (Air J. P. Luke) indicating the relative position of the four chief cities in New Zealand with regard to their rates and loans. The figures can bo relied upon, as they havo been checked by the City Treasurer. Mr Luke said that ho had obtained tho balance-sheets of Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin -up m March 31st, 1913. Tho relative position of tho four centres is shown in bln* following tabic: — Comparative Table of Rates, Loans, etc., of the four Cities as at March BXst, 1913.

Loan Sinking Net debt City, Population, Debt. Funds, per beau, £ £ X s. f Auckland ... 47.783 1,433,103 187,829 24 1 J Christchurch 55.098 4c5,662 65,187 7 19’ Dunedin ... 43.988 1,216.711 60,352 23 15 9| ‘Wellington 66,338 2,269,050 261,662 33 0 Additional particulars are given iu| tho following table: —

Sinking Fund Kates per Non* In annum Kopro- reproannual out of uuctivc duclivo City. value. ratca. Loans, Doans, s. d. £ £ £ Auckland 3 3 1-10 4,090 496,800 945,300 Christchurch 3 6 [l3-105 2,121 187,339 268.325 Dunedin 3 61 3,699 983,338 2A313 WeUiagion 2 8 17-2810,592 1,518,805 170,244, It- is to bo noted, said tho Mayor, ‘that the Auckland tramway loans arc not incorporated, as tho service belongs to a company. Christchurch' tramway and drainage loans are not incorporated, as both services are controlled hy boards. Dunedin drainage is also controlled by a board, and the loans are not included in tho municipal accounts. Tho municipality owns tho gasworks. Tho analysis of the loans of tho other cities as shown in tho table is approximate. “As to reproductive loans, of course, in Wellington they consist of tramways, electric light, waterworks (that is, tho extraordinary suppy in connection with tho waterworks), the abattoirs, and tho reclamation loan- —tho rents arising therefrom. In Auckland they havo tho electric light, abattoirs, and waterworks extraordinary supply, similar to our own. Christchurch Ims waterworks, abattoirs, electric light m a small way, because there is a sjjccial loan raised Inst year which is not inEorpnrated in these comparative returns. Dunedin has trains, electric light, abattoirs, gas, and water, on the same basis ns tho others. Tho Whole of tho rating in connection with tho four cities has boon dealt with according to tho system in vogue. In Auckland and Dunedin the valuation is on the annun I basis; whereas Wellington and Christchurch havo some of Ihoir services on tho unimproved value.”