CITY FINANCES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1656, 24 January 1913, Page 6

CITY FINANCES.

AN INTERIM STATEMENT.

HUTT ROAD. SUGGESTED COST TO WELLINGTON £100,000. MAY MEAN ADDITIONAL RATE. ■■'•>•' . ■ ■ " '!'.'. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. D. M'Laren) presented to the Gity Covhqil last, night an interim-statement of the city's expenditure for the • nine months ended of the current financial year. :' "I- am- presenting this statement," he said, "for the reason that during 'the last two or three years bur expenditure, on the various "ordinary works !in'. the city has eatenup practically the whole of the income, -and ■ therefore' we must bear in mind, that if we want to purchase'additional land, or make extensions in tramways, or enter upon other undertakings it will'be a matter of asking the ratepayers to allow «9''to raise money for siich purposes. -Out of our' ordinary income wocannot possibly meet special • demands. I should like to' point out also that if the cost: to-', us that, is suggested; on account of the Hutt Road widening is fixed, there is no doubt that it will mean imposing an' additional rate ori ; the ratepayers to. meet that liability. ! .i':. '.- ',"'• Mr. Fletcher: What has-become of the Hutt'Eoadf. '■": y.>,'" '~'". The Mayor: We are waiting until the commission has finished.. The figure suggested to'us.-was £100,000.:.: - Mr. Hindmarsh: That is not determined yet? . .;.'■' ' ' : :■': . ':/::■■■:■.. ,-' .'.'■' The Mayor: No, it -is only' suggested. The question-will (not-be finally settled" until the end of: March. ; . . Included ,ih this statement is the expenditure on :'our> various'services -and departments forthe period of, nine months 1 until December 31. '-The total of : - ordinary expenditure for those nine months 'was £103,738, and in addition to this there was spent! in special- works £4816. Last year the total expenditure'' for' the full year wa5..£137,862 v so that we are on practically the- same basis' .this-Tear : as:'.last year; The total income.for last year was £214,870: -"': ' \. "V Following were the details of the.statement:— .: -•■■■-;;:,--••■;-.. .- -.'■.-.

Ordinary Expenditure, & Salaries arid office oxnenses ...;;'...;■ 10.920 Street works 25,210 Scavenging and street watoiing . (G.BIO Collection of refuse x fi,059 Sheet lighting 6,759 Fire Brigade .' /.... 5,240 Drainage 5,297 Baths 378 Town Hall 1,832 Abattoirs 2,520 Public Health 49 Zoo : 1,318 Waterworks 10,013 Libraries .'. 2,123 Beservcs 5,714 Cemetery 795 Hospital and Charitable Aid :■ 7,559 Sanitary Services . ..i 1,210 Miscellaneous 4,012 Total 103,738 v Exceptional Expenditure, Academy of Fino Arts , 1,000 Land at Maranui ' 450 Easson, compensation .' 450 Kilbinue Recreation Ground J,'.20 Forming Lyall Bay Rcservo 920 Tish Market .' 435 Tea Kiosk, Newtonn Park 332 Total / . 4.81G It may'be mentioned that the interest bill for the city last year was about .£77,000, which accounts for practically' the whole difference between tho revenue and the exnonditnro under ordinary heads. As mav be noted, tHe expenditure take* no account of the city's tramways and electric lighting enterprises.