GROWTH OF LEVIN BOROUGH

Chronicle (Levin), 4 December 1947, Page 4

GROWTH OF LEVIN BOROUGH

POPULATION DOUBLES ITSELF IN 24. YEARS With a population that has almost doubled itself and more than 'twice the number of houses, the Levin Borough has shown very considerable growth over the past 24 years. Some interesting facts are revealed in the. statistics of the borough for this period. Indicative as a-sign of the times are the figures. and . records of the expenditure on wages to borough employees. In- 1923. the sum of £3900 was paid. tq. the council staff of 21, or an average of £185' 14s 3d per employee. In . 1935 the 63 employees were paid £7253-, or an average of £115 0s 11M each. In 1947 there were 51 employees and they ' received. .£19,699-, an average of £386 5s ld per employee. There is a .definite. shortage of building property. In 1923 there were 496 dwellings . in Levin and 890 rateable .properties. . This year there are 1054 dwellings, but only 1289 rateable properties. Four years ago, with 863 ratepayers, £11,087 was collected on the system of rating on the capital value. This year on the unimproved value system 1056 ratepayers paid a total- of £16,690 in rates.

The following are the comparative statistics for eight of the years from 1923' to 1947: — Number of dwellings: 1923, 496; 1925, 548; 1927, 613; 1928, 625; 1935, 682'; 1937, 737; 1943, 874; 1947, 1054. Number of ratepayers : 1923, 623; 1927, 703; 1928, 722; 1935, 752; 1937, 761; 1943, 863; 1947, 1056. Number of rateable properties: 1923, 890; 1927, 995; 1928, 1000; 1935, 1041; 1937, 1058; 1943, 1114; 1947, 1289. • Miles of roads laid in borough: 1923, 25; 1935, 36; 1937, 444; 1943, 554; 1947, 554. Motor drivers' licences issued: 1923, 61; 1925, 64; 1928, 424; 1935, 537; 1937, 648; 1943, 646; 1947, 1061. Building permits issued: 1923, 39; 1925, 68; 1928, 41; 1931, 4; 1935, 27; 1937, 44; 1943, 34; 1947, 122. Dog licences granted: 1923, 139; 1925, 148; 1928, 161; 1935, 176; 1937, 175; 1943, 146; 1947, 134. It is of interest to note that the sudden increase in the number of motor drivers' licences is due to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1924, which made provision for this. The population figures are: 1921, 1979; 1926, 2456; 1936, 2659; 1945, 3264; 1947, 3500 (estimated).