The Star. TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1922. THE CITY RATES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16818, 22 August 1922, Page 6

The Star. TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1922. THE CITY RATES.

The City Council last evening fixed the rates for the current year, and the confirming resolution will be passed at a meeting three weeks hence. The posi tion revealed by the figures put before the Council was not precisely alarming, but it is bound to give rise to some uneasiness. The main facts that Emerge are that the rates have been raised and expenditure is increasing. When it 13 recalled that the slogan of all parties at the last municipal election was economy, it is distinctly surprising to find that there lie 9 in front of the city a bigger expenditure and a heavier rate than ever. There have been some re~ markable in the principal items of expenditure during the past two years. For instance, general administrative expenses have risen from £27,206 in 1920-21 to £34,525 in 1922-23, while works expenses have jumped from £70,500 to £94,449. It is explained that this year's works expenditure includes the Woolston estimates for the first time, hut that does not account for all the difference. The growth in the works’ expenditure has been very considerable, and it is here that the council might be expected to exercise a strict supervision. It is not desired by the citizens that a cheeseparing policy should be pursued, but there is a very reasonable demand that the city should be assured of a proper return for the work done. The rates for various public purposes place a very heavy burden on the city. The DeputyMayor stated that last year the total for all purposes was £223,000, while this* year the total would be £235,573. an increase of £12.573, towards which Woolston contributes £7462. The polic , of the council in regard to antecedent liabilities, is dictated by statute, and there was practically no option but to strike a rate in order to raise the first instalment of £IO.OOO. The hospital and charitable aid rate demand! on the city shows an increase of £2BOO ,and the Bridge of Remembrance calls for a contribution of £IBOO. The position, however, is saved from being much worse by one or two fortnitous circum stances. There is a saving of £7OOO on drainage rates, while the Fire Boaru levy is £IOOO less than last year. If it had not been for these decreases the city would have had to find an increase of” £20.000 instead of £12,000. There it no guarantee that the drainage and fire levies for next year will not be back to their previous figures, and iri fact the drainage levy will certainly be restored. The council in 1923-24 will 6till have to provide for its antecedent liability and the bridge contribution, so the outlook is not promising as far as rates are concerned. There cannot, possibly be n reduction and unless the strictest economy is observed there will be a further increase The citizen's have a right to urge the council to carefully scrutinise requests for expenditure. There is a disposition to regard the public purse as an inexhaustible fund of cash, but squandering, public or private, is bound to bring an appro priate revenge.