PUBLIC BODIES’ FINANCE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 8658, 22 October 1896, Page 3

PUBLIC BODIES’ FINANCE.

■■■ i ■ [to the editor.] Sir, —From correspondence and reports lately appearing in your paper I gather that the finances of public bodies in Timaiu are causing the ratepayers some concern. Your “new” Councillors have been digging deeper than some Of the “old ” ones think they have any right to and stirring up mud, and thus disturbing and polluting the quiet waters of municipal life. It seems that the general rate of 6d does not meet the levy made by the Harbour Board, and the Charitable Aid Board, and that the office expenses are all charged against the collecting of the water rate. In fact, 1 fear that for years the borough has been gradually going to the bad. The trouble, to my mind, arises from the large and unnecessary expenditure for salaries owing to the multiplication of .public bodies in the district, and the bure for the disease would be the amaltgamation of these bodies and the doing jaway with unnecessary officers and their ?big salaries. There is no reason why, for charitable aid should not be from the Borough Council : "office as it used to be, and a saving of |£2oo a year thus effected, for 1 am sure 'that the present clerical staff of the borough could do all the extra work required and not be overworked, then. Trusting that this suggestion for a way out of the mess that the public bodies are gradually getting deeper into, will receive due consideration by those interested, I am, etc., SeTTIiBR* St. Andrew’s, October 21st, 1896.