PORT CHALMERS FINANCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22628, 20 July 1935, Page 18

PORT CHALMERS FINANCES

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —Mr Scollay, the Mayor of Port Chalmers, according to a statement m this morning’s Daily Times, still seems to think his idea of readjustment of the borough finances would be better _ than raising the rates. As mentioned in an article in the Times of July 17. the General Committee is to be commended on the stand it took. The fact that the rate was reduced 3d in the £ four years ago has left our borough in a deplorable state. Mr Scollay considers he could readjust things and saVe about £350. He also mentions a few small items of saving, but he did not mention that to save the above , amount it would be necessary to dispense * with one permanent hand, discontinue the borough’s membership of the Municipal Association, and _ other items which would be detrimental to the borough. In my opinion this would be false economy, as the borough is understaffed at the present time, and any layman would not need to have both eves open to see it. No do,not it will take a number of years, even with the increased rate, to get out of the mire, and I think every reasonable-minded ratepayer understands the position, and will not grudge the extra few shillings per year to give our council a reasonable chance to nut the borough house in order. J would like to wish the General Committee and its colleagues every success in their unpleasant task. —I am, etc., • Hard-up Ratepayer.