ONSLOW AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2131, 24 April 1914, Page 5

ONSLOW AFFAIRS

MAYOR'S FINANCIAL REVIEW

Tho Onslow Borough Council met on Wednesday, tho Mayor (Mr. F. Holdsworth) presiding. Councillors J. C. Gardner, L. A. Browne, C. Monro, C. Bowden, D. Munro, E. C Alderson, A. H. Hoby, R. A. Nicol, and B. Lynucberg wero also present. Tho Mayor moved that tho motion passed on April 9 regarding the reading of water meters aud the appointment' of a licensed plumber to check the readings of tho council's officer bo rescinded. Councillor C. Monro seconded the motion, which, was carried: Tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board notified that tho borough's contribution for tho current year would be £366 18s. 4d. Tho Mayor pointed out that the council's - contribution last year had been £369 4s. 4d., and in 1912 it was £268. ' On tho motion of Councillor Lynueberg further consideration of the matter was held over. The Mayor and Councillor Lynneberg were appointed to represent tho council at tho conference called by tho Wellington Central Chamber '.f Commerce regarding provincial trausit and other matters. It w-as decided to notify plumbers working in tho borough that they must advise the borough office before doing work connected with water meters. At the conclusion of the meeting the Mayor (Mr. F. Holdsworth) entertained tho councillors at a supper party, on the occasion of his retirement from office, after a third term. Mr. Holdsworth stated that as it was tho last occasion on which he would preside at the council, he desired to make a statement outlining tho position of tho borough. When ho took tho Mayoral chair, in 1912, the bank overdraft was £1000, but next year the amount was reduced to a littlo over £500. In the following year it was again reduced to about £400, but in tho present year it was abftut £420. This slight rise was brought about owmg to the council not reckoning oh certain unforeseen expenditure, namely, £100 (costs" in connection with the l'lutt Road inquiry), £75 (progress payment in connection with Victoria Road improvements), aud £112 (payments in connection with the Woodmancoto Road). Without these tho overdraft fur thn 'current year would have been onlj £133. Tho decrease in the overdraft had been brought about by increased rates, and he saw no reason why it should not ho wiped out altogether this year. Referring to road improvements, the speaker said that in 1912-13, £915 had been spent on the roads in the borough, and during the period 1913-14 the sum of £1140 had been expended. This large amount was chiefly expended on tho Victoria and Woodmancoto Roads. Regarding the rates, the Mayor said that a sum of £1842 had been collected during tho past year, and at March 31 only £22 was outstanding. (Applause.) He considered that this state of affairs reflected great credit on Ihe office staff. At the present time only £14 was outstanding. With regard to work in tho borough, the speaker said that it was not going on as ho would like. . Ratepayers could not do without borrowed money, and it ha,d not been possiblo to get money from the Government.. If money had been obtainable at an'easy rate of interest, the borough would' have benefited by tho erection of several buildings. The chief drawback which the borough had to contend with was the want of communication. The Suburban Railway Leaguo had approached the General Manager of Railways, with a view to obtaining better railway facilities, and tho speaker expressed tho. hope that something would be forthcoming in the near future. Councillor 1). Lynneberg congratulated the Mayor on the satisfactory position of tho borough, and also expressed regret at the fact that he was retiring from office. Councillors J. C. Gardner, 1). Munro, E. & Alderson, C. Monro. R. A. Nicol, C. Bowden, L. A. Browne, and A. H., Hoby also made similar expressions.