7

H.—2

My remarks in hist year's report ;is to the difficulty in carrying on with insufficieni revenue apply with added force to the year under review. The difficulty has appreciably increased with ihe rising prices of materials and labour. Two separate awards giving local bodies' workmen increases of wanes have been made during Ihe year, and although ihe Department is exempt From the operations of awards the municipal staff had been given the increases in wages, thus putting them on tire same Footing as men employed in other boroughs. These increases of wages were inevitable, but in the absenoe of rating-powers or some other means of supplementing our fixed revenue the resultant effect on our finances is disastrous* All new work such as increasing our area of tarred-macadam road-formation has had to lie slopped, and practically no new tarred footpaths have been laid down during the year. Indeed, several sections of footpaths previously tarred but now in urgent need of renovation cannot be dealt with. This is the first year in our civic history in which such a condition of affairs lias had to be recorded, and the consequent cotidition of the streets is not viewed with any pride or satisfaction by those responsible for the maintenance. The levy on the Town Account made by the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard for the current financial year was £237 (is. Bd., as compared with £246 18s. sd. for the previous year. To meet this a rate of in Ihe pound on the capital value was levied. The levy for fireprevention purposes made by ihe Fire Hoard was £72(1 55., as compared with £41S for the previous year. This was met with a rate of $d. in the pound on the value of buildings within the town area. The library rate was Xd. in the pound. Forty-two building permits were issued during the year for new buildings and alterations lo existing ones, the total value of such being £15,580. The rateable (capital) value of the town is £528,3:")!). 1 attach a statement of Ihe Rotorua Town Accounl. Statement of Accounts of the Town of Rotoktja for Year ending 31st March, 1919. General Account. Receipts. Expenditure. £ a. ct. £ s. d. £ s. tl. £ r. d. Treasury— Debit balance at 31st March, Hath'foes .. .. 1,398 0 g 1919 .. .. 563 Hi 1(1 Fees and fines .. .. 2 5 0 Administration — Rents (Crown lands) .. 2,166 1 5 Salaries .. .. 299 18 7 ■ 3,550 l(i I Printing and advertising o 8 0 Sanitary service fees .. .. t4."i !) 3 Audit .. .. 0 0 (I Public pound foes .. .. IM 0 I) Legal expenses .. 4 4 0 Licenses and fees-— Bank charges .. .. 0 10 0 Huilding permits .. 41 0 0 Interest on overdraft .. 22 1 (i Vehicle .. .. 79 10 0 Office expenses .. 20 12 9 Driver .. .. 7 18 0 350 14 10 Publicans' .. .. 208 0 0 Public works — Auctioneers' .. .. 100 10 0 Maintenance of streets and Shooting-gallery .. 3 0 0 roads (labour and ma-liilliard-rooms. . .. 28 0 0 terial) .. .. 3,206 (i 3 Hall .. .. 39 15 0 Tree topping and pruning 02 13 (i Show .. ..' 13 0 0 Street-lighting.. .. 192 10 0 Hawkers' .. .. (I 10 0 3,521 10 3 Second-tend dealers' . . 0 5 0 Sanitary service— Storage of explosives .. 2 5 0 Labour .. .. 535 7 0 Dog-registration fees .. 24 12 li Fodder and plant .. 156 6 3 542 5 li 001 13 3 Rents — Public pound—Wages, fodder, Real property .. 7 10 0 and advertising .. .. 130 19 10 Explosive magazines .. 6 5 0 ' Public health —Sanitary in--13 15 0 : spection .. .. . . SO 3 I Peace celebrations — public ! Peace celebration- Advcrsubseriptions, &o. .. .. 225 15 0 ! Using, prize-money, &v. .. 31(1 13 I! Miscellaneous— Licensing - expenses — TanContributions to works .. 25 8 i> ranga County Council .. .. 22 19 7 .Material sold .. .. 10 0 0 Miscellaneous— Sale of by-laws .. 0 8 0 lnsuranco (fire and aeciRefunds — dent) .. . . 46 4 0 Charitablo aid .. 9 8 11 Dog-registration .. 20 11 1 Government insurance 1 7 o Charitable aid .. 2 2 10 Miscellaneous .. I S 2 Maintenance of town clock 2') 0 0 Guides' badges .. 010 0 Sundries .. .. 4 4 4 54 1(1 7 J 99 2 9 Ten - per - cent, penalty on overdue rates .. .. .. 18 10 10 Debit balance at 31st March, 1920 .. .. .. .. 765 10 8 £5,795 13 8 £5,795 13 8 Separate Accounts. No. 1. Hospital and Charitable Aid Account. Receipts. Expenditure. £ a. d Rates— £ 8. d, £ s. d. Debit balance at 31st March, 1010 .. 25 810 Arrears .. .. .. 73 1 10 Waikato Hospital Hoard.. .. .. 2:17 0 S Current .. .. .. 100 10 3 Printing and advertising.. .. .. 3 7 lit 209 12 1 Refund rates overpaid .. .. .. 0 7 7 Postages .. .. .. .. 0 12 o Credit balance at 31st March, 1920 .. 2 8 8 £209 12 1 £269 12 1