Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, NOV. 6, 1896. The Borough Finances.

Manawatu Herald, 5 November 1896, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, NOV. 6, 1896. The Borough Finances.

We have remarked previously how little members of local bodies trouble themselves about the financial podi- j tion cf the Board of which they are members, when we were reviewing the strong remarks made by the Chief Justice at Wang&nui on an embefcsilenisnt ca?e. On Monday afternoon the Councillors of the Borough gave a most startling illustration of our assertion, for not only did the Councillors wonder how they stood in regard to income and expenditure, but even the Mayor first of all declared there was no money, and afterwards stated there was plenty of it t If the Mayor can bt so contradictory, is it to be wondered at the general ignorance of the Councillors ? To make the subject clearer, we will set out, as briefly as we can, the resolution and discu sion ' that unfolded this extraordinary state of things. First, however, to throw further light upon the otherwise dark transactions, we will state, for the information of those who might otherwise overlook the meaning, that No. 2 Line runs past the pro^.eity ol the Mayor, and that the residences of Councillors Walsh and Osborne are on the Norbiton Road. These may be simple accident?, but in endeavouring to unravel a mystery every little circumstance needs to he taken into consideration. The pro ceedings commenced by the Mayor proposing that tenders should be called for metalling the Lady's Mile and No. 2 Line. Councillor Wistwo id very properly urged that th& Avenue Road should receive the first attention, as it would complete a decent road to the cemetery, and the work had been promised to be dune year after year. Councillor Henneasy upheld Or Westwqod. The Mayor explained that the Avenue Eoad would have due attention, but there* were not sufficient funds to do all the work at once. In a month's time rates would be coming in, and then the work could be let. Ci's Walsh and Osborne objected to any work being done which did not include the metalling of a portion of the i^orbiton Road, as far, indeed, as Mr Osborne's house. The Mayor then again emphatically declared tboio was not enough money in hand, and that, to do all the work then asked, for, ihere would not bo enough, did they avail themselves to the full of their legal overdraft. This is a statement no Councillor will ques-ti-ju. To do ihe Mayor justice, we are glad to say that ha understood the majority of the Council was in favour i<f iha Lady's Mile and the Gomtjfery Ro:id being first dona, and he substituted a resolution to that effect in the place of the one he had ! first proposed. This was carritd, J aud the incident-appeared at an end, but to the astonishment of Home of the Councillors Or Onborne proposed and Cr Walsh seconded, that tendei'B be calbd for No. 2 Litfe. and then the curious announcement was made by the Mayor, to which we desire to draw the fullest attention. Councillor Westwood, before the Mayor put the motion to the meeting, inquired of the Mayor how this work could be carried out, as he had understood him to say there were not sufficient funds, when, to Councillor Westwood's astonishment, the Mayor replied there was plenty of money, heaps of it ! The resolution, in fttce of this statement, was carried, aud, perhaps to emphasize the statement of the Mayor, Councillor Westwood moved a resolution that -lenders be called for Norbiton Road. We admit that at present we have been unable to comprehend the two assertions made by the Mayor, as at the time he was making it the Council were overdrawn at the Bank, and with the payments passed at the meeting the account would be so much more overdrawn. No statement was made as to the total cost of all the works for which tenders will be called, but we believe the liabilities would require tho whole of the authorised overdraft to be used, thus leaving the maintainance of our road*, lighting, urgent repairs, salaries', &c, to be found out of current rates due. One thing is quite sure that if it is possible to borrow enough money to pay their way, the Councillors at their last meeting swept up every halfpenny they could, thus leaving their Bucceseors the pleasant duty of carrying on business with insufficient funds. The misfortune appears to be this, that with the exception of the Lady 'B Mile and the Cemetery Road, all the other work has been suggested from considerations of personal, as opposed to public convenience, and the rinks run with having tho finances of the Council crippled are too serious foi so little general benefit. There is still one chance of safety, and that is in the calm reflection of Councillors and from the expression of public opinion. Tenders may be called, but as the whole Council are a works committee and can all have ft say in the acceptance of tenders, it will be posiibU for tbe majority to

arrive at a satisfactory knowledge of the ibrcughaccoubts, and thus only accept tenders for the works they can afford to carry out. In justification of our surprise at the statements made as to the financial position of the itorough, we may mention that the Town Clerk called the Council's attention to the awkward position they would be placing themselves in. It was a curious sight to find our representatives losing possession of thsir calm reasoning powers and moving resolution after resolution to spend money, tbe totals of which they were unaware, after the Mayor had made his first assertion of want of funds. f JLhe Mayor, we trd3t, will use our columns to put him3e!f right with the Burgesses, as this extraordinary re ck!esßnosß on the eve of his retiring from office, after a long term of most useful work, is just one of those things " no fellah can understand. 1 '