CITY AND SUBURBS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12315, 9 December 1925, Page 7

CITY AND SUBURBS

PUBLIC SPIRIT URGED CALL FOR PROGRESS: EXAMINE THE MEANS . REPORT OF CIVIC LEAGUE A healthy interest in the progress of the munioipal administration of the city is revealed by ,tbe Civio League, the annual report of which calls for a manifestation of public spirit by all concerned. “Recent interviews with the Mayor and committees of the City Council,” the report states, “have much impressed the league’s officers and general council with the great difficulties attached to the mattdr of getting needed works in the several districts cajrried out. This is also realised by the several district associations. The answer to appeals for local works, the necessity of which is recognised, Baa become , a stereotyped statement to the effect that there is a tightness of financial means and no further expenditure out of revenues for any new work can . at present be contemplated.

NECESSITY OR LUXURY? “This position of the city’s stffairs raises several important questions. Ato the outlying districts to make progress, and by what means? As we cannot contemplate the city, and its residential areas remaining stagant there appears to' be a very urgent need for comprehensive examination . by the City Council of the city’s financial and managerial policies. /. “Whether -our present rating system is quite sound in respect to raising, the revenue required for the city’s maintenance and development call for consideration on judicial lines. Then there appears to have grown upon ns. a disposition to disregard any distinction between works of necessitv affecting car living conditions, and what may he termed luxuries as affecting merely our pleasures. .. . ‘“We are informed that our city’s expenditure on parks and reserves equals those of Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin combined. ALL RESPONSIBLE. ' “Whilst recognising that sports .‘and recreation are necessary adjuncts -to a city wo think the great expenditure, on these and other requirements. requires special examination at thiß time. It would appear that we are in some* directions’spending out .of revenue on worfcft which should be capital charges, to he .met out of loans if the ratepayers sanction same. We do not wish to be censorious of the Mayor . and council. All are .responsible. We have been calling for progress without sufficiently examining the means or what are essential requirements. To. put the city’s finance and general policy ora a sound basis is, we think, the most urgent requirement at present in cyder to provide for regular and steady' advancement of onr city.”