The Sun FRIDAY, JULY 27, 1928 ANOTHER CITY MUDDLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 417, 27 July 1928, Page 8

The Sun FRIDAY, JULY 27, 1928 ANOTHER CITY MUDDLE

FURTHER evidence was provided by the Auckland City Council last evening- that it has become a hopeless administration moving- laboriously in a chronic state of extravagant muddle. On this occasion inefficiency parades tlie city’s highways and byways, assuming the grotesque form of inadequate, hut expensive, streets maintenance. Let the ratepayers study the latest exposure of inferior civic management.

It is admitted authoritatively and with belated frankness that there is not enough money available for streets maintenance. The estimated grant for the current year lias been fixed too low, and it will he necessary, in future estimates, to make a more liberal provision for such work. One commentator has praised the committee for its frankness in disclosing “a problem of disturbing magnitude.” No other observers of a lamentable position need belittle that commendation. All the praise that can he spared ought to he given without hesitation. The committee and the council need every hit of praise that is available.

Three years ago the overburdened ratepayers were invited to sanction. a gigantic loan of £710,000 for essential streets improvement. The arguments in support of the expenditure were plausible, eminently reasonable, and of the soothingcharacter that might well wile birds from the hush. It was asserted, as was right and proper, and then apparently incontrovertible, that if so huge a capital sum were spent on making the streets to a surface standard equal to Auckland’s increased and eager traffic, and in accord with the pride of the citizens in their no mean city, the cost of maintenance would be appreciably reduced. The money was spent with exceptional rapidity. In order to alleviate the blight of unemployment, which happens to he worse in Auckland than in any other centre because Auckland is a much more congenial place, wherein to be out of work during tlie winter, the loan was exhausted in three years, instead of in five years. Neither in principle nor in practice was there anything wrong about speeding up the work. It was a humane thing to do in the harsh circumstances, and there is as yet no reason for any doubt as to the work having been done well and to the best advantage. If there should he any doubt about that let the council have the full benefit of it. But what about the promise, nay, the guarantee, of an appreciable reduction in the cost of streets maintenance? It was a mirage. And yet, when it was said plainly and honestly and indisputably in this column over a year ago, that the ratepayers were tired of being- humbugged, members of the council and some people with a child’s faith in the city’s administration were peeved and hurt. The truth is plainer than ever it was; the ratepayers have been humbugged and lulled by a shallow promise and a hollow guarantee. The cost of streets maintenance this year lias been set down at £ 90,000 —as high as it ever has been, and still much lower than needs demand! It is confessed that an estimate of £150,000 a year would be nearer the mark of requirement. Moreover, it has been explained clumsily by Cr. Dempsey, as chairman of the inefficient Works Committee that, if provision were made out of loan expenditure for interest and sinking fund charges, street scavenging, and Heaven only knows what else besides, there would he only £4,000 available for the maintenance of over 200 miles of streets. That, however, is the sort of financial nonsense which passes for high finance in the council. It has to he recognised, of course, that as the city goes on lapping- up suburban territory, the cost of streets maintenance must expand. But there must be a limit set to expenditure. The council cannot he allowed to go on haphazardly following rough-and-ready estimates, and succeeding only in demonstrating the extent of its muddle. What is wanted is a thorough estimate within the bounds of the ratepayers’ ability to pay, and a system of management that shall compel obdurate officials to spend the money to the best advantage. More could and should be said about the business, hut such. essential comment will keep for another occasion.