OTAHUHU BOROUGH COUNCIL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 671, 24 May 1929, Page 10

OTAHUHU BOROUGH COUNCIL

FINANCES IN PARLOUS STATE The statement of accounts submitted by the town clerk at last evening’s meeting: of the Otahuhu Borough Council revealed the fact that rigid economy must be practised for the present year. At the last meeting of the council Mr. G. Pearce asked that a statement be made out and circularised to the councillors detailing the position of the borough finances, and this was done. The statement of accounts to May 15 showed the district fund account to be in debit £15,542 7s, with outstanding accounts amounting to £B7B 18s sd. Expenditure since April 1 totalled £7.108 4s 9d, while receipts during that time were £7Bl 18s lid. Assets to balance a large part of die debit balance include the current year’s revenue. Assets from the past year amounted to £6,095 13s lid. The largest item shown was arrears of rates, £2.188 3s 3d. • The report mentioned that the legal overdraft limit was £22,569, but that it would probably be fixed at £22.500 for the present year. There would be practically no revenue coming in until January. The last council decided to grant a discount of 5 per cent, this year for all rates paid -within a month, and if this proposal was adopted it would mean considerable revenue during I August. The estimated receipts for the present year amount to £8,706 17s 6d. general rates accounting for £3,788 17s Id. Included in the estimated expenditure is £BOO for bank charges and discount on rates, and £2,750 to the Works Committee for material and cartafc? and wages for the outside staff. The Works Committee reported having inspected the various roads throughout the borough, and with the exception of the concrete strip, all -were in urgent need of repair. Owing to the shortage of funds, it is considered that no work of a permanent nature can be undertaken. Of the £2.750 allowed for the works of the district, during the next 11 months, works amounting to £7OO have already been executed or authorised, and with contingencies, etc., only £1,500 will be available to carry out the whole pro- j gramme of works during the first year i of the present council's term. The committee is going- into the question of economy, as regards the i outdoor staff of the council. It is not intended that any pro- I gramme of unemployed relief work ! will be undertaken. The Mayor and Cr. Pearce were appointed delegates on the local bodies Transport Committee. A deputation headed by Canon Archdall waited on the council, and asked that maintenance- and repair work be carried out on Golf Avenue and Middlemore Road. The Questions of access, ! drainage and lighting were dealt with. | The deputation was advised that its ; requests had been noted, but owing to i the shortage of funds, no promises | could be made for the execution of the I work in the near future, i