COUNTY FINANCE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17117, 12 April 1921, Page 8

COUNTY FINANCE.

WAIMAIBI'S POSITION. At last night's meeting of the Wai. rnairi County. Council, matters in r*. gard to the Council's finauees were dealt with in a discussion which threat* oned, for a time, to becomo soniewhaij heated. , The matter was brought up by the. chairman (Mr P. Spencer), *ho said that wiNh no revenue in sight foe some months there was an urgent neat • for economy. The Council had an overdraft of £«000, und owed the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board £IOOO. Cr. F. Sisson pointed out that Mm Council also owed substantial sum* to the Drainage Board and tho Gity Council. Cr. C. E. Cross asked how it tras than v , a cheque for £IOOO passed for payment to the Drainage Board had not boon forwarded to that body, Although it had been drawn a montlh ago. The County Clerk explained that Umi cheque had not been forwarded bocama of certain incorrect items in the Drain* • age Board's account. Ho had prao» { tically been instructed by tho chairmail not to forward the cheque till after! the close of Uho Council's hnnnci&l ycaiv ■ , Cr. S. A. Staples began to criticua tho conduct of the Council's finance*, when the clerk interjected that if Cr, Staples had anything to buy against him • he should say it openly. It was not| his placo to finance the Council. Cr. Staples should take the responsibility* of tho position as chairman of th* ■ Finance Committee. "You 'know Mir chary the banks are about granting overdrafts at prosent," ho said. A member: Yes, you'll send a cheque along one of these days and get it <fi»-. honoured. Cr. It. W. Hawke: The k clerk hu struck a vital point. I'vo been on tbia Cuncil now for some five or six months, and the Finance Committee has nevec been called together during that time* I've been waiting to go into this nut* ter for some time. It's a disgrace. Wi ought to meet every month and gs through the accounts. i Cre. W. J.-Walter and Crocs also «*» x pressed the opinion that the Finattoft ; Committee should be called togetho* '< from time to time. *" Cr. Staples said that although tht Ji committee had not been railed together l $ foe had been watching tho Council'* "J finances. He instanced the arrangement >M made with tho Minister of Finance it M regard to tho Council's debentures an4w other mattors. As a matter of fact, hj« it had only taken the chairmanship of tteJgf' committee till Cr. Cuiry returned. ,wk Tho Ciairman: You wore appointewjl, chairman, Mr Staples. Wo shall wanes' all your assistance. ,$m After further desultory discussion tb| J|§ matter was dropped, the chairman ealk'ls ing for the next businosg. -W