TOWN CLERK'S BIENNIAL 1923—1925.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2876, 28 April 1925, Page 1

TOWN CLERK'S BIENNIAL 1923—1925.

FINANCE AND GENERAL

(Concluded from Page 3.)

the Main Street, but it is only fair to point out that the extensive repair s to these two streets have been necessitated solely by the traffic that they had to carry. The most obvious remedy if there is anything in the idea of diverting through traffic into the Main Street would be to tor seal the Avenue from Maon Street to its junction with Russell Street and Union Street from Main Street to Johnston Street, and this matter no doubt will receive consideration in future.

Water and Drainage.—This is a most important work of the Council, but owing to financial embarrasment the work of completing the laying of sewers has perforce had to wait. An instalment of £2,000 was received a few weeks ago, but most of this sum bad to be used to pay back liabilities, although a small sum will remain which 'is being used to lay sewers in Union Street, Johnston Street, and Frances Street. The Council has narrowly escaped prosecution in its praise-worthy attempt to curry on the work without finance, but as the last instalment of the loan becomes payable this year, it will be possible. I think, to practically finish I he work if only some promise could be obtained from the State Advances Office that the money will be available by the 31st March 1926. In view of the past experience I hardly like to_ recommend the work going on without some indication that the full sum will be forthcoming.

The insinuation of the electric motor at tlie pumphouse is a step in the right direction and may reduce pumping costs under ordinary circumstances. It must not he overlooked, however, that we are paying for the current consumed on a maximum demand basis, hi case of tires when it becomes necessary io pump water direct into the mains to boost the pressure the maximum indicator immediately rises far above normal and the charge for current is levied on whatever height the indicator attains during the quarter. Under these circumstances 1 would like the Council to arrange with the Power Board to have the maximum demand read monthly instead of quartery. A large amount of the Water and Drainage Loan money being spent in sewerage etc., is practically nonrevenue producing and the whole of the interest charges have therefore to be paid out of rates. The interest yate at present is 4|d in the £ while the total rates are 10. id in the £. From this it will be easily seen that the ordinary rates only amount to sjtd. In the year 1921/22 the ordinary rates were 5Ad in the £so excepting the Water and Drainage Loan from our reckoning the rates during the past four years have increased only by id in the £, an increase of £sl. The sum of £523 has been advanced this year and £BBO last year to property owners to connect their premises with the sewerage system, repayments totalling £329. These repayments, with the balance of the loan to be raised, £llOO, will be available for property owners where the sowers have not yet been laid.

Public Health. —This is really one of the least advertised of the Council’s activities. Owing to the very satisfactory financial.arrangements with the Health Department and the promptness and efficiency of its local inspector this work is carried out in its entirety for the sum of £49 per annum. The iuspector’s time has been fully taken up with testing and inspecting drainage installations and fumigating and reporting on infectious disease notifications which is all a duty of the Council. Time has also been found for general inspection work and for investigating complaints etc., reported through the office. Nothing has eventuated regarding the establishment of a public convenience for men, and I expect this matter will come up for discussion by the new Council. The Ladies’ Rest Room established in the Town Hall is well patronised and fulfils a long-felt want. Town Hall. —This account in the books comes out fairly well for the year’s working, the cash balance in the picture account being £547. This sum representing a weekly rental of £lO 10s has enabled the drainage connection loan of £134 to be paid off, the re-wiring contract to be paid for, in addition to the ordinary charges of interest and sinking fund £l3B, insurance £46, rates £l7, General repairs £2O to be (Continued on Page 4. )