WAIHI BEACH

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 66285, 2 October 1925, Page 8

WAIHI BEACH

QUESTION OF FINANCE COUNCIL LIVING BEYOND INCOME . THE UNPAID RENTS The Finance Committee of the Waihi Borough Council recommended at the last meeting of the Council that the books dealing with the beach property be procured forthwith, and the matter of accounts be gone into, also the adoption of the report of the special committee. This, among other matters, advised the acceptance of Mr Ashby’s offer, made through the works supervisor (Mr Cliff) that payment for the cartage of metal for the Beach Road be held over until the third week in December, and that an average of not more than two teams be employed per day to the end of the financial year. The report further recommended that as far as possible work be concentrated on the Beach Road during fine weather except for maintenance work within the borough that is absolutely necessary. Cr. Robinson, in opposing the adoption of the report, said that it had been admitted at the meeting of the Finance Committee the previous evening that the borough was living a good deal beyond its income. To continue on at the present rate, with the overdraft standing at about £2OOO and with £4OO of accounts owing, it would be the height of folly. The councillor then briefly summarised the statement of accounts as dealt with at the Finance Committee’s meeting. The figures, he said, showed that the Council was spending slightly over £2OOO per month, and he would like know how it was going to continue at that rate of expenditure. It was no use drifting, the expenditure had to be reduced, and he could not see his way to supporting anything involving fresh expenditure at the present stage. He was aware the Council had £6OOO sunk at the Waihi Beach, and fully alive to the fact that an effort was necessary to save the situation. All the same he did not think it was fair that the ratepayers of the town should provide a good road for excursionists, and he would ask was it a fair proposition to the ratepayers to spend money on the Beach Road for the pleasure of tourists. He was therefore opposed to the proposal. Cr. Pipe drew the Council’s attention to the fact that there was a lot of money owing for rents at the beach, and the tenants were only waiting to be asked for payment. He would like to know when the Waihi Beach books were going to be made up and be available to the Council? The proper place for the books was the borough office There was some further discussion after which the motion for the adoption of the report was put to the meeting and adopted on the voices, the vote being 7 to 4. —Telegraph.