MUNICIPAL YEAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 116, 20 May 1942, Page 3

MUNICIPAL YEAR

ANNUAL REPORTS PRESENTED CITY’S PUBLIC DEBT REDUCED NEW LOAN FLOATED SUCCESSFULLY Covering a wide range of municipal activities, reports on the financial year ended March 31, last, were tabled by executive officers at a meeting of the Wanganui City Council yesterday afternoon, and were received. The reports reviewed the council’s operations in detail, and were made by the town clerk (Mr. U. R. White), the city treasurer (Mr. F. J. Best), the acting-city engineer (Mr. \V. J. Frethey), the gas works engineer and manager (Mr. W. J. Stone), the tramways ■superintendent (Mr. G. R. Holmes) and the chief city librarian (Miss A. M. Blackett).

Attached to the acting-city en gineer’s report were reports from th superintendent ol parks and reserve (Mr. 5. 1. Cox), the acting-chief me chanic (Mr. F. J. Lundonq the chie sanitary inspector (Mr. G. J. Fear* the chief traffic inspector (Mr. H. E Tipper), and the ranger and dog ta? collector (Mr. J. H. Minnell). The town clerk (Mr. White) said the accounts closed in a highly satisfactory condition. This clearly indicated that ratepayers and citizens generally, in spite of a difficult year, had whole-heart-edly supported the efforts of the council’s administrative officers. This contention was heightened b; three recent events which might bt given as illustrations of Wanganui’, financial standing, and how favour ably it compared with other leading centres of the Dominion, the repor added. On the last day for the collectior of the 1941-42 rate levy on im provement of .55 per cent, of the tota sum collected was recorded. This position had improved year by year th< recent total collection reaching a new high level. “The “City of Wanganui Repayment Loan, 1941,” was floated sue cessfully and without difficulty, th< Dunedin Savings Bank having undertaken to advance the total of £lO9 500. “Thirdly,” Mr. White stated, “the recent sales of ‘Bonds for Bombers’ ii this postal district, with the city as it; centre, averaged almost £3 per capita the highest among the returns for the Dominion in this campaign.” Credit Balances. With the exception of the Gas Department, ali municipal accounts closed with a credit balance, reported the city treasurer (Mr. Best). Rates levied totalled £133,808 compared with £130,025 the previous year. The increase was due to higher hospital and fire levies. The amount levied on behalf of the Harbour Board, included in the otal, was £15,799. Accounts with credit balances ai March 31. last, were (previous year’s figures in parentheses): Genera £9046 (£1305); library £669 (£584) street lighting £B5l (£67); interest £B9l (£621); tramways £4037 (£1184). The Gas Department showed a debi' of £5362, compared with £3179. “Notwithstanding the increased rate levy, a new high level was establis-hec by the collection of £111,514 (including rebate £1116), or 94.5 per cent, thus exceeding last year’s percentage by .3 per cent.,” Mr. Best added. “The following table covering the past live years shows the percentage of rate lev? collected within each year:—l94l-42 94.50 per cent.; 1940-41, 94.20 pet cent.; 1939-40, 93.50 per eent.; 1938-39 91.04 per cent.; 1937-38, 90.20 per cent “Arrears of rates collected amount ed to £4274, or £1673 less than las year. The total amount of rates outstanding at March 31, 1942, covering the year's 1934-1942, was £18.716, bul adequate provision has been made foi amounts which must eventually bt written off as irrecoverable. Valuations Reduced. “Reductions in valuations for rating purposes which became effective during the year resulted in a further fail of £12,913, from £1717,294 in 3940-41 to £1701,381 in 1941-42. it was stated last year that the valuation at the beginning of the year 1939-40 was £l- - Ihe rateable value has therefore been reduced by £10,837 since 1939. Receipts, other than rates, in th* general department totalled £31,751 last year, £3884 in excess of the esti mated amount. Rents, etc., producec £7601, general licence fees £1934 heavy traffic fees £4lBl, petrol ta; allocation £4345, water supply £5919 and miscellaneous £3910. During 194041 general receipts totalled 129,086 Expenditure in the general depart ment during the 1941-42 financial yea was £140,534, compared with £142,27, during 1940-41, and was £4655 les. than estimated. Principal items wer< interest on loans £30,647 public work; and services £40,371, sinking fund am repayments £25,923, hospital levy £lO, 730. Fire Board levy £5172, Public Library £2646, administration £9056 and street lighting £3077. Library Popular.

From figures presented it would be seen that the volume of business at the library again showed an all-round increase, reported the city librarian (Miss Blackett). Important as statistics were, however, it was impossible to assess from mere figures the true value of a public library service. At March 31 last, the number of adult subscribers was 1947, compared with 1849 the previous year, and the number of junior members stood at 2144, as against 1919. Adult and junior members combined brought the total to 4091, compared with 3768. •Books, magazines and other publications issued by the circulating department during the year totalled 227,656. of which fiction absorbed 148,934. The city treasurer reported that receipts from sales of water through meters continue to increase, as there are several large consumers in the city. In addition, the sum received as re-imbursements in respect of work executed by the city engineer’s staff is higher than last year by £254. By reason of increased membership and circulation of books the receipts have again increased, this year by £ll4, as against the previous year’s increase of £75. The chief librarian has dealt fully with the work of this department in her annual report.