CASTLECLIFF ESTIMATES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14340, 9 July 1914, Page 4

CASTLECLIFF ESTIMATES.

A SLIGHT INCREASE IN RATES. EXPLANATION HV THE CHAIRMAN. The estimates for the coming year were discussed at last night’s meeting of the Gqstloeliff Town Hoard, and foreshadowed a small increase in rates A summary of the estimates which wero adopted is given below. The receipts for tile forthcoming year were estimated to be:—Rate subsidy, £9l 7s (id; licenses, .£4l 10s; general rate of Id in the £ on the total rateable value of XT 15,472, X4«] 2s Bd, a. total of £753 14s 2d. The expenditure was estimated to be Salaries, X 95 ; Hospital Hoard levy, £42 7s 3d ; administration expenses, .£125; street maintenance and gas works, X'4lli. a total of 2s td. The estimated overdraft March 31st, 1915, .£2 U S Hs 2d. This does rot include the interest and sinking fund on the £3OOO which amounts to nearly £l5O. It was proposed to meet this with a sjM'cial rate of n-Kld, which would amount to £l5O. T’ne rate pledged for this loan was jd, so that only half was proposed to ho collected. The total rate would he 1 5-10 d, leaving Id clear for maintenance ami street works. In connoction with the abev estimates, f he chairman, Cmr. (Tosswoll, made the following oxplanat ion : Tho work done by the Hoard has been good, it has been earriod out economically, and the very b»st use has been made of the money. The Hoard has been complimented over and over again on its road works. The trouble was that they had a large length of roadway to maintain, and the district was so scattered, and continually requests wero made for improvements. For such a large district the revenue was very small in 1909, the year the Hoard came into existence, the revenue was X42H, and for tho current year it was estimated at .£754. He had expressed the hope when tho .£3OOO loan was raised, that the special rate would not have to be collected, but the district had so largely increased,’ and had made such progress that the position had changed, and unless this special rate wa.s levied Iho Hoard would probably not be able to carry out the ordinary maintenance work, and certainly not he able to carry out improvements ’ It was their only resource. ‘ It was proposed to make a 5-Kid in the £ special rate, and tbe total rates would be 1 5-Kid, a not unreasonable rate. The time was not far distant when big works would be necessary and it would involve a big loan, but the time was not as yet. So far as he could see, there was nothing hut to collect the special rate, Since the formation of the Hoard in 1909 over three miles of new roads had been formed in the district. The money at too Hoard’s disposal had not been wasted, and the various week* bad lx>en carried out, economically. The administration expenses bad been very low, and mi one could accuse the Board of lavish expenditure. The special resolution authorising the special rate was passed and will be confirmed at next meeting.