The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1889. Borough Finance

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 121, 18 April 1889, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1889. Borough Finance

At the last meeting of the Borough Council one of the Councillors, Mr E. Goodbehere, said that since the present Mayor took office, when there was a great cry about retrenchment and reducing the overdraft, the Council was continually being laden with new liabilities in the shape of poundkeeper, ranger, and renting paddocks. At the time the Mayor replied and gave a general contradiction to the implied charge of extravagance. Since then we have taken the trouble to look up find the following : The bank overdraft the figures in the Borough books and on March 31st, 1388, was £363 18s 3d, and outstanding liabilities £77 13s 4d; total, £441 lis 7d. On March 31st 1889 the bank overdraft was £279 12s 6d; outstanding cheques, £12 lis; other liabilities, £56 Ids; total, £336 7s 6d. This shows a decrease in the overdraft, &v., of £105 4s Id, and it is estimated the liabilities will be still further reduced by the middle of June next, The next item is Public Works expenditure. For the six moutha October 1887 to March 31, 1888, £322 12s 2d ; and fur the six months from Ootober 1888 to March 1889, £182 6a 6d ; a saving of £ 1 90 5s 8d being thus effected. The Public Works Committee for the latter period consisted of Dr Monckton (chairman), Councillors Faiuheld Thompson, W. E. Chamberlain, and G. VV. Fowles. The Poundkeeper and Ranger were appointed on the 7th February and their cost to the Borough to the 4th of April has been :— Salaries, £5 13s Id; fodder for st».ck impounded, £2 4s 6d ; total, £7 17s 7d. The nett receipts from thio Bource have been — February, £3 15s; March, £14 Us 6d; total, £18 6s 6d, less amount due to owners of horses sold £2 ss, £16 la 6d ; which, after deducting the £7 17b 7d for salaries, &c, leaves £8 3s lid nett surplus for the two months, or a profit of £49 3s 6d per annum, as against £4 per annum under the previous system. These figures entirely refute the charges levelled against the Mayor, Dr Monokton, of extravagant management. On the whole we think the ratepayers are to be congratulated on the economy practised by the Council under the new regime which, if allowed to "Continue for another year or two, will place the Borough Treasury in funds, iustead of being burdened with a chronic and costly overdraft, without in any way embarrassing the conduct of tho Borough affairs.