BOROUGH FINANCES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 68, 28 April 1944, Page 5

BOROUGH FINANCES

PROSPECTS FOR NEW YEAR

MAYOR'S REMARKS

Discussing the Borough balance sheet at the April meeting;, the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, said that when he first glanced 1 at it, he had imagined that there ' was quite a credit balance in hand. Actually the reverse was the case and they had overspent by £ll'oov It might be necessary, he continued, in view of the flood damage for the council to pull its horns in, in the coming year. Work during the year had been satisfactorily carried out, the only thing not done being the re-lining of the water mains for which £600 had been earmarked. Building was practically at a standstill and there did not appear to be any prospect of. overcoming the great demand for accommodation which existed. There were; many problems ahead, water supply, sewerage, abattoirs, aerodrome and rubbish collection and disposal all of which, were fairly substantial and which the council would have to face up to. With regard to electricity he considered the town was in for a sticky time and how consumers xvould fare he did not 'know. Certainly the supply would be drastically curtailed during the year. Mr Barry said he did not favour any postponement of consideration of the new estimates in view of the forthcoming elections. If there was any delay it would hold up work for the new year and thought they should be considered as usual at the May meeting. , It might be necessary toi raise, the rates for the council had! certainly reached a stage when: major undertakings, simply had! to be faced. The council he thought should be quite capable of going to the electors and telling them the whole position as it i obtained and as it had to be met. It would 1 not fair to withhold' this information until after the election.