LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16523, 6 September 1921, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr H. G Ell states that the takings at the Sign of the Kiwi last week, *n payment for refreshments supplied to visitors, left a net sum of £l7 Ids over after defraying the cost of provisions. Mr Ell intends to hand this sum over at once to the Scenic Reserves Board. Tho Riccarton borough finances arc still in a healthy condition. The financial statement presented last night showed that after paying all accounts the council had a credit balance of £759 10s lid in the district fund account and a credit of £127 3s 7d in the south area loan account. No rates were outstanding for the year 1920-21. Ah an inducement to ratepayers to pay a portion of their rates in advance, and thus relieve the City Council of financial embarrassment, Mr H. Holland suggested at last night’s drainage conference that tho council should al low ratepayers to place the money in the temporary loan account, where it would earn the ordinary rate of interest until the rates became due, when it would be transferred to the rate account. The Mayor said that the suggestion would be considered, but he did nob think it was necessary, as the ratepayers had already paid £4OOO on account. Councillor J. A. Flesher said that the rates would be due in six weeks’ time, <«nu it was intended to enforce early payment. About eighty employees of the Tramway Board failed to exercise their option of joining the board’s superannuation fund, although they were given plenty of time. New employees are compelled to join. It is a Condition of engagement. The Works Committee reported to the board yesterday:—“The establishment of the fund* which is proving so beneficial, would have been impossible if all the staff had acted as did the eighty mentioned. Some of these are now wanting to join, and correspondence with the National Provident Fund has taken place on the matter. The result is that the board is able to say that those men will be permitted to join, and secure the benefits of their back service in the pension computation if they pay the amount which they would have paid if they had joined at the inception, plus half the board’s share of their back contribution. As an alternative, they will be permitted to join as from the present date without any lump sum payment, back service not to be computed.” We produce portraiture that pleases because of its naturalness. Our prices are moderate, too. Steffano Webb, 252, High Street. ’Phone 1989. 1 Martin’s Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all Chemists and Stores throughout Australasia* X