JOHNSONVILLE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11662, 29 October 1923, Page 11

JOHNSONVILLE

TOWN BOARD AFFAIRS.

"NO AUDITOR-GENERAL'S TAG,® FIRST THEE) EN 12 TEARS. For the first time in twelve years (states the annual report of the Johnsonville Town Board) the balance-sheet has been returned, from the Auditor and Con-troller-General without a “tag.” An unauthorised expenditure before March 31st, 1912, of £459 16s 3d being the amount received from the sale of the recreation ground sections, and the subject ever since of a ‘"’tax” from the Auditor-General has, thanks to Mr W. H. Field. M.P., been validated (explains the board) by section 73 of the Washingup Bill of last session, the Auditor-Gen-eral having agreed refrain from opposing the legislation in the hope that the Town Board will thereafter carry ont tis financial operations in conformity with statutory conditions." ANTECEDENT LIABILITY. This amount of £459 16s 3d was included in the Johnsonville Town Board's antecedent liability. So also were <1) a liability of abont £350 for the continuation of the stormwater drainage from the Johnsonville railway premises; and (2) a net liability of £1067 156 7d on various open accounts, including bank overdraft. To wipe out this latter amount in four years and provide funds to overtake war-time neglect of streets, footpaths, drainage, sewerage, etc., the total rates were increased to provide an additional £528 Is 6d per annum—increased last year by special collections, inolnduMr an indirect contribution to the annual chargee on the Children's Park by fees from licenses issued to Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., and to Mr Dunbar Sloane.

The principal items of extraordinary expenditure were:—lnstalment of bank overdraft, payment of one-fourth, of total amount, £266 18a 2d; interest on total amount, £sl 15s; part of house connection loan nsed for general purposes of board, £lB 19s Id; additional expenditure on roads and footpaths, £122 9d( painting of all board's buildings, £47 8s; septio tank new distributor trays, £35 7s fid; paying off old accounts, £SO; total, £602 11s 9cL THANKS to the railway

The report places on record the board's appreciation of the action of the General Manager of Railways in reviewng the board's written promise of February 11th, 1920, to provide the storm-water drain alreiady referred to in this report. The work (states the report) has been carried out by the department and handed over to us without our being called upon to contribute to the cost. Other matters arranged with the district railway engineer, and promptly attended to, include improvements to the approaches to tho Waterloo road railway bridge and improvements to roads and footpaths tc be taken over from the department. The board has been met in a liberal and prompt spirit, and we wish to express our appreciation. Another matter for grateful notice is the fulfilled promise of the district traffio manager to instal a telephone at the JohrsonviHe railway station for its freight customers in Johnsonville and the surrounding districts."