Prosperous Finances.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 16 October 1917, Page 3

Prosperous Finances.

I ♦ i COUNTY. COUNCIL'S POSITION. I , At Saturday's mooting of tho Horo- | whenua County Council, tho Treasurer, ; Mr P. W. Goldsmith, submitted n report i upon tho financial position of tbo County ! as at March 31 last, ft was accompanied by tho balance-shoot certified as correct J by tho Auditor-General. Mr Goldsmith's statement showed that | the receipts front all.-ourees <1 living fcht* [ year amounted to £29,004, £5125 of this I being loan money and £705 Government ! grants. On tho year's working a debit balance of £534S for l'.)10 was turned into a credit balance of £371)8 for 1917. Tho total amount of general rates and penalties collected amounted to £14,035 as against £12,331 in the preceding year, and £8958 in 1914-15. The Treasurer expressed pleasure at the improvement in tho payment of raq.es, the arrears on March 31 last being £081 as against £2313 in 1910 and £3779 in 1915. Tho Government subsidy indicated that the rates had been paid more promptly of late, because the subsidy was loot if tho rates wero not collected. A sum of £2313 was received from this source last year as against £1817 and £1801 in the tw:> preceding years. The Hospital levy shows a steady inincrease—l9l7, £3110 ; 1910, £2713, and 1915, £22-14. Tho expenditure in the various ridings was as follows (shillings and pence omitted) . JVlainte- Miseelnance laneous Total £ £ £ Tokomaru 1590 290 1880 Wirokino 3221 58 3270 Otaki 1480 " 50 1542 To Roro 14S1 90 157S Including the amount charged to material and plant in the general account it tvas apparent that nearly £8000 was spoilt upon the roads during the year.

At March 31, 1916, the County overdraft stood ot £5503, but on March 31 last the fund was in credit to the amount of £510. Interest oil overdraft for the year ws.s £203, as against £42S in 1910.

In conclusion the Oounty Treasurer respectfully pointed out to the Council the detirabiiity of preparing careful estimates at the beginning of cach financial year a..d then as nearly aj possible adhering to such estimates in the work of the year. Only by such a method could tlio finances be kept on a proper footing. It might be good business to have an overdraft for a certain portion of the year, but as a ;rule there should be ro overdraft of any account on March 31. Not long since,- in three years, tlio Council paid as interest on overdraft £1130, which must be a serious drain upon its ordinary revenue.

When tli9 report was read Cr Kebbell said he considered it an excellent statement of the positiou. "As the oldest member, in two senses," lie continued, "I must congratulate the Treasurer on the yery lucid :eport lie has given." It was the first such report he remembered in tlio existence of the Council. ®

The Chairman, Cr Monk : We had one last year, but Mr Goldsmith is the first Treasurer to do it.

The Chairman said he intended at next meeting to review tlio last two -years. The position was very satisfactory and would remain so ii carefully handled. Ho advocated cave in the allocation of funds and grappling with the roading problem.