The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1927. MUNICIPAL FINANCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1927. MUNICIPAL FINANCE.

The newly elected Borough Council has had its attention centred on the finances at an eany date. It would appear from the report submitted to the Council last week that the Council has to find more income, and this is being derived where possible. The position of drift in the cemetery account over some years it is proposed to arrest by an increase in the interment fees. The grounds must be kept in seemly order and properly maintained, and as there are so many demands on the ordinary receipts of the Council, fresh income must be found. It appears the general rate is well up to its limit already, which suggests that the system of rating on improved values is not always a success. With values so low, and a limit to the incidence, ii is not possible to collect a large sum. and this is a serious limitation on the operations of the Council. Comparing the local rates with those of other West Coast Boroughs it is significant that the Hokitika Borough rates are the lowest per £IOOO of capital value. Hokitika stands at £9.92, Kumara £10.03, Ross £13.6, Runanga £l-5.18, Westport

C 15.71, Brunner £Ui.3!i. Greyinoulh, £19.05. The standard of the valuation on unimproved values evidently ranges low in Hokitika, and that is the material fact in restricting income under the system. With this fact before it the Council must seek other sources ol income. The water supply maintenance is a. special draw on the funds, and unfortunately the constant expenditure in that direction does not retrieve the position. There me still serious defects and complaints about the water supply, and there is evidently considerable expenditure ahead to sc. cure a .satisfactory improvement. This is an outlay which will probably have to he Una need by special means, hut for the time being money has io he found to keep the supply up to the best advantage. The attention necessary to sanitation causes a considerable outgoing, and more money must le raised on that account. The hospital levy has increased somewhat again, and there must he a rise in the special rate levied to meet the payments. It is clear therefore that there is a good deal of extraordinary expense to he provided for before tlie Council htunds available to moot ordinary works about the streets and footpaths. For some time past the work about the streets has been helped materially by the drainage loan, hut these funds are now becoming exhausted, and the Council will have to rely more and more on rate income for the means to carry on its street maintenance. A lair amount of permanent" work has boon done with regard to the drainage system, but the flooding of the hack portion of the town indicates a liability which has to he considered av provided for. The demands on the Council are now such that economy must he exercised where possible and revenues must he collectable where obtainable. The income of the Hokitika Borough Council after all is less than £90(10 tier annum. To realise what this means, it is a sum of little more than half that raised in Westport, and not a quarter of tho revenue received in the Greymouth Borough. The expenditure has to be proportioned to the income so that of necessity administration is limited. The town has been fortunate in the whole in not having tin extravagant Council. It receives very valuable services from its Councillors, including of course, the .Mayor,' who has for so long given most 'valuable services to the citizens, free of any charge. In that respect the town indeed is well and faithfully served, and because of that the citizens have reposed always a large measure of confidence in the Council and the general manner in which the administration is earned on. And. because again of that confidence, the townspeople wjll look to the Council to make tho best of the present situation, and trust to the financial difficulties being well and sensibly met.