BOROUGH FINANCES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 149, 19 April 1940, Page 5

BOROUGH FINANCES

TREASURER CONGRATULATED WHAKATANE'S PROGRESS i After the Borough Treasurer, Mr D. V. Saunders, had read his report covering the year ending March 31, the Mayor congratulated him on the report and balance sheet and the promptness with Avhich they had been issued. His Worship amplified some of the items listed. During the year, he said, there had been a considerable* falling off in the sub-division of private properties but this was offset by Government sub-divisions. Income Avas at a standstill and this bore out his contention that the rating system should be altered. The increase shown in the revenue was due to a rise in rates. The Electrical account was getting back to a normal footing and though an increase had been shown in revenue in tliis department the fact must not be overlooked that the cost of bulk power had aliso risen. 'Concluding, His Worship said that the past year had been satisfactory and be ! hoped that next year would be as ;good. Equipment for Centennial Park Cr Sullivan congratulated the Treasurer and Mayor. He was pleased to see that Mr Saunders had sefi out the expenditure on the Centennial Park. This cost had been borne out of ordinary revenue. Regarding the money collected on the occasion of the Centennial celebrations, Cr , Sullivan said he would like to see the money spent immediately on equipment for the area and he suggested that the Works Committee should bring in that recommenda-« tion. Dealing with electrical matters, Cr Sullivan was of the opinion that the General Fund had a right to ex-* pect something back from the Electrical Account, to which about £10>000 had been transferred. Cr Sullivan added that he thought expenditure on the latter account shonld be very carefully watched during the next twelve months. Cr Sullivan concluded by observing that since Mr Saunders took office as Town Clerk and Borough Treasurer outstanding rates had been consistently reduced. Taken right through, Cr Sullivan said, he could endorse the Mayor's remarks-. "Most Thriving Town." : . "I would also congratulate the Mayor and the Town Clerk,'*" said .Cr Canning. Remarking on the growth of the town, lie said that Whakatane had grown from what was little more than a Maori villageto the most thriving town In tha Bay of Plenty., He added a note of caution and said that the, expenditure of the Council must be watched as it was impossible to foresee: the future. Councillors Caisley, Shapley and Good also spoke, the latter expressing an accountant's appreciation of the manner in which the report and balance sheet had been presented. Mr Saunders thanked the Council? for the remarks. Credit, he said,, was due to the office staff for wholehearted and eager co-operation and to the outside staff, who furnished figures.