BOROUGH FINANCES.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 134, 28 April 1885, Page 2

BOROUGH FINANCES.

TO THE KDITOB OF f HR/BTA.H. Sib, — Will you allow me to say a few words on the changes- pending in our Borough as regards the proposed retrenchments. I would not trouble you, but I consider the Press, the best means that one has of expressing his views to his fellow citizens on matters of public import. It is an acknowledged fact that an overdraft has been caused by the effects of an unusually heavy flood which involved the , Council in a costly lawsuit, .and. necessitated ft large outlay in repair* and the re-construction of worlo." Now as this is not the fault of: any "particular individuals, I do not so* why one or two persons should be» made the principal sufferers. I allude to the proposed cutting down of the salaries &c, «£ the. officers of the Council. If loss has been; sustained by flood, and an overdraft incurred, it can only be plainly liquidated at the cost of the whole of the property holders of the Borough in proportion , to the amount oi property they hold individually. To make one or tiro persons the principal sufferers of a public calamity might be all very well in despotic Eiissia, but I hope ii Will not be tolerated in a liberal country like this. As a large amount of money has lately been spent on public works," the ratepayers might well , Jtake . thia matter up and say, "we will now economise as much as possible until we have reduced onr public debt/ (the overdraft). There is no doubt that if the Council exercise, rigid economy in the way of expenditure on the maintenance and . improvement; of already constructed streets, and refuse tacarry out new works, however small, from the ordinary account, the overdraft referred to will in a comparatively short time be paid off , Of cpursejit may seem hard to economise our maintenance, and devote all our available funds, license* fees^ r^>> itQi in vulgar phrase,-. ■},* work-, off a dead horse, 1 ' but I think such a course preferable to cutting : down the.remuneratT tion of the by no means well paid officers, and' pefhapsi compel ;ihem to leave the district to seek employment elsewheie^-a'prbceeaiijfg'whidhivwould invariably tend to injure our town and our credit. '•• Feilding> has '-a good reputation as, regards her internal prosperity/ A 'Bui it is a matter of impossibility to raise money by mortgage on .town sections through the disinclination of capitalints to advance it on securities within the Borough, a fact which has much iujurod the sale and pri.ee of land,, as the late auction; sales' ' have^p'Wived, and which has, as a natural consequence kept down the, rateable, value of property, and therefore 'the annual revenue from . rates. As far as lam concerned I would rather see a subscription list, .opened ajj; $he Borough office with the hopes, of inducing soJae> of our statesmen and the public who have the interest of our, town ; .at Jieart to give a trifle to reduce our overdraft,, and, although;, a poor, man, I am prepared to give a pound or thirty shilling^ and- have . no. doubt., many more would do the same.— l am, ic. •'■ '-:" ■•' ;■ '- v s r--: i,;i,> i'I^OITSZtS.