SOUTH INVECARGILL

Southland Times, Issue 19278, 24 June 1924, Page 3

SOUTH INVECARGILL

MUNICIPAL MATTERS. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING. REPORT AND BALANCE SHEET CONSIDERED. At a special statutory meeting of the South Invercargill Borough Council, held last evening to consider the balance sheet for the past two yeans, the Mayor, Mr W. McChesney, presided. The following were present-Councillors W. Bridges, F. C. Jones, R. Foster, F. Holloway, M. Pearce, E. Hewitt and W. Nedlson. The Town Clerk, Mr A. E. Dyson, read the balance sheet for the past two years. “The Council, to-day is in the happy position of seeing the Borough in a splendid financial position,” said the Mayor, in moving the adoption of the balance sheet. “Faced at the beginning of the term with a debit balance of £lOl6, an unquestionably bad position, the prospects did not seem bright. The position at March 31 last showed that the debit balance had been reduced to £470, with outstanding general rates and subsidies amounting to a like amount as an offset. The bulk of these rates and subsidies are now in hand, and the position now is that the deficit is practically wiped off. If the financial position as presented to the Council at the beginning of the term had been correct there would have been a surplus of over £lOO. “The present Council set out to wipe out the deficit in two years, but instead it has been accomplished in one year. To bring this about it was necessary to effect what was considered by some very drastic changes, the bringing about of which caused one or two “breezes.” The result proves conclusively that the Council was quite justified in its action, as it can easily be recognised that if the policy of drift followed in the past was continued the finances of the Borough would soon have been in a state of chaos. Unfortunately, for some reason or other, five members of the Council refused to act in committees, and two of them resigned. This necessitated double work having to be undertaken by the remaining members, the members of the Finance Committee having also to act as the Works Committee. I wish to express my thanks to these members, as it was their loyal assistance and cooperation that such good results were obtained. Great credit is also due to the new foreman for the satisfactory manner in which the work is being carried out, considerable savings having been effected, which are plainly noticeable. “The Finance Committee is at present considering the rates for the present year, and at the next meeting will submit a report, which if adopted, will mean a substantial reduction in rates. In this year’s estimates provision is made for submitting a loan proposal for a street lighting scheme throughout the whole of the Borough ; building by-laws; and an improvising bill to alter the ward system from three to two. Regarding the financial position of the Borough, it is a question if there is any other borough in a better position. When you come to consider that the Borough covers an area of three square miles, has 40 miles of gravelled roads, 20 miles of piped drains, and 12 miles of asphalt footpaths, with a public debt of only £25,000 and no overdraft, it is not hard to realise why South Invercargill is loth to lose identity. With careful management we can look forward to the remainder of the time with confidence. All I ask for is the continued support of the committees.” The motion was seconded by Councillor Holloway, who said that he thought the South Invercargill roads the best in all Southland—with the exceptional of Boxall road, which would, he hoped, be added to the number of good roads before the year ended. After discussion on minor points the motion was passed u nap posed. The Town Clerk, Mr A. E. Dyson, was thanked for the clear manner in which he had presented the accounts.