CITY’S FINANCE

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 17, 14 October 1921, Page 7

CITY’S FINANCE

YEAR’S ESTIMATES OUTPACED MAYORAL EXPLANATION In moving tho adoption of the finance report nt last evening’s meeting of tho City Council, the Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.) drew attention to the fact that expenditure for the first half-year was some £20,000 in excess of the estimates. Ho said that this had arisen by the street works being £ll,OOO overspent, plant £9700, whilst other services had also been expensive. It had l also to ho remembered that they had to carry over £7OOO from last year. The amount spent on plant was not, of course, recurring. It would, however, ho seen by everyone that very great care would have to bo exercised if they were to come out on the right side at the end of the current six months. Councillor M. F. Luckie said there was nothing for the city or the council to bo alarmed at, as it was quite usual for the greater part of the .estimated expenditure to be used up in the first half of tho financial year, as there was a greater demand for plant and for road works in the winter time. Me thought that the explanation should bo given when tho statement was made so that the public would be seized of the proper position. Councillor T. Forsyth said it was very pleasant to hear from Councillor Luckie that all was well, but he would like to point out that many anhual payments had not been halved (including the interest on the overdraft and amounts for special works) for the purpose of the statement, so that if these amounts were to be taken into account it would be found that the cifv was over-spent nearer £30.000 than £20.000. The special works on which nothing bad been spent were:—New conveniences, £4509; Mount Street widening, £4WO: Ngaio subway, £750: tarred roads, £1000; new tennis courts. £ll «»• Councillor Luckie maintained that money not spent was not money over6pCouncillor Forsyth said that such an arrangement was all right if it were certain those works were not to be go e on with. If they were—and the council was pledged to go on with them—such expenditure must be taken into account.