NO CHANGE

Southland Times, Issue 25306, 8 June 1935, Page 6

NO CHANGE

RATES IN AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL’S DECISION SUM OF £139,422 OVERDUE (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, June 7. The Auckland City rates for the year 1934-35 will remain the same as for the financial year just closed, the total being 3/11 in the pound. In submitting the estimates the Mayor, Mr Ernest Davis, said the present council began with a net debit balance of £29,598. He anticipated after making as reasonable provision for expenditure as the circumstances would permit that the rating year would close with a net debit of £26,967. He submitted this was as much as the council could reasonably be expected' to undertake, the only alternative to provide a balanced budget being an increase in the rates or the cutting of expenditure to the detriment of municipal services. The accounts were satisfactory from the revenue viewpoint and the financial stability of the city was also satisfactory. Unless councillors wished to increase the rates they should adopt the estimates in toto. He had gone as far as he prudently could and the council must bear the responsibility for any increases. Referring to rate arrears, which amounted on March 31 last to £139,422 or 29 per cent, of the amount derivable from the full year’s rating, the Mayor said the matter must be faced either by the extremely unpleasant method of enforcing payment or by writing them off as irrecoverable. After a brief discussion the estimates were adopted in toto except for an amendment to restore all salary cuts to employees receiving up to £3OO. This will cost about £11,700. A motion by a non-Labour member that steps be taken to divide the city into three wards each electing seven members was rejected. Labour members said it would be a retrograde step going back to the Victorian age.