CITY FINANCES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20176, 3 March 1931, Page 8

CITY FINANCES.

OUTSIDE EXAMINATION SUGGESTED. COUNCIL NOT INTERESTED. A suggestion by a City/ accountant, Mr J. Boy Smith, that a committeeof citizens be set up to examine the City'i finances, came before the Council last night, when it was reported 1 by the By* laws, Finance, and Departmental Com* mittee that in regard to the following letter sent to the Mayor (Mr J - .. K* Archer) it had no recommendation to .make:—*

"As a.result of our recent conversation, I now venture tosubmittbe followisg letter for submission to the. City Council for consideraiton; — ' , . t " The perennial problem of ?ivi© fin- 1 ""tuaces is difficult enough of solution ii* formal times; "at present when ' the spending capacity -of the community hasbeen>so reduced, the duties ' devolving upon the City Council and Hnancej Committee must be Herculean. {The Council is doubtless very desirous o£ reducing the rate burdens' of' the citii zenn, and. while the .difficulties .which' have to be surmounted are fully realised, rate reduction is as possible as it is necessary, / Committee of Experts. , ' "May I suggest that the Councilm-* vite a small committee of yell-known" citizens with financial experience, \ to T exatninft'the affairs'of City generally and submit to the- Council a financial plan on the following lines:—, ; "1. Ti> reduce total rates levied by the - Christchujch City Council to ,a figpe ■ representing a reasonable bur* den per citizen. > t * '' p ~2 i Suggesting essential and pos-; sible economies which will bring, the demands for expenditure* within > thef fundof revenue decided upon 4 ■ ' ;"8: Outlining capital expenditure; on general lines for a periad of tpßyy- . ten years, as a guide, to ■auceefcsive Councils in; the'flatter bs£ dens entailed byihtereat and sinking . fund. N 1 i; : -Making sucfc o^hisr'obsfirvjltl^oi 1 : i on ihe position *a& , necessary to an adequate Bcheme, , Practical Advlw. "It is understood, ofdouwe, that the* committee act pi adi; visory, capacity, but *it i* at the same, 'time hoped that the Council will give such facilities for obtaining the necessary information tHAt the resulting report jj*Sy be iOf ulpnoafc practical! The proposed committee wquldjaot - 'aeSrive the-Chriitchurch< City.CouttciLind Finance Cojwnlttee 1 of 'fenjMf .{Heir. . proper duties anil functions} 'hiitt '; the advic6 6f Such as is suggested would assist tfce Council pointing out avenues of economy and formulating a comprehensive budget. - "In regard to the personnel, this Aiatfv ter must, of course, be, left, tp the 1 de« cision of the Council, but I shall be pleated to submit .the names of / citizens of. Christchurch particularly qualified for this work, who are prepared to act OTt~euch a .committee,!• - ■ There was' no - discussion aid no faction, was taken. ,V