TOWN CLERK S BIENNIAL 1923—1925.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2876, 28 April 1925, Page 4

TOWN CLERK S BIENNIAL 1923—1925.

(Continued from Page 1.)

nil paid and still leave a credit balance of £74. The right of way a Ion" (he West side of the Hall requires repairing and should be put in hand. Next year if finance permits, it would be well to consider painting (he inside of the building, and (o instal some more scenery. The cinematograph plant under Mr Reid’s care is in first, class order and attendances have been well maintained. During the year 33,401 tickets of admission have been sold, doortakings amounting to £l,458, an increase on last year of £260. The matter of installing electric power in the Hall lias been considered at various times, but it was felt that, the time was not opportune. Further discussion will, no doubt be held on this subject in the future. Library. —The library is still carried on in a small way for the benefit of those interested. The number of subseibers has been maintained and new books constantly added. The sum spent on books this year was £47 against £4l last year. Subscriptions total £35, and there is a balance in the account of £B6, a decrease of about £B. Authority has been given for the purchase of more new books and these will be obtained as time and opportunity permit. Reserves. —The Reserves account at the beginning of the year showed a small balance of £l3. This year (he balance is £lO3, and out of this a reasonable amount will no doubt be offered to the Beautifying Society to enable its operations to be carried on. The sum received for the use of Easton Park by football and sports bodies amounted to £24. This piece of ground seems to be a bone of contention, but having decided to fix a flat rental, the Council seems to have partly solved the problem. The rent due on account of other reserves has all been paid up to date, there being no rents outstanding. Cemetery.—The cemetery account shows a credit balance of £lOl against £SO last year. Expenditure remaining the same, the increase represents the sale of sites £2l. The grass has been cut each year and general supervision exercised.

Conncijli Chambers. —The new buildings wore officially opened on October 25th 1923 leading officials of other local organisations being entertained by the Council. Despite criticism there can be no complaint regarding the convenience of the premises for working in, and the Council Chamber is a large well lighted room. At present this* room is let to the Mnnawnln Oroua RivetBoard ,511 a rental of £l. per week, and this has produced in all about £76. This building is one of the few properties on which there is no debt whatsoever, and consequently no rates to pay. Fire Prevention. —This duty being taken out of the hands of the Council by the electors and placed under the control of a Board requires little comment other than that the service lias no doubt been established on a more efficient basis than would have been the ease had the Council had to carry it out, for the simple reason that in this ease the whole of the money required would have had to be found by the ratepayers whereas under a Fire Board control only 45 per cent, of the expenditure has to be found by the Council. The cost to the Borough even now is, however, fairly heavy, the sum of £164 being paid out last year and £2Bl this year. This latter sum represents practically a rate of 11/04d in the £ over the whole Borough. In addition to this straight out payment the Council is called upon to maintain at its own expense the lire plug's and indicators and to maintain a. steady pressure of water at till times. Water also, wluen of course has to be pumped, is supplied as required.

Licenses. — License fees received during the year amount to £387 agiimst last year £3lB, the principal increases being Heavy Traffic from £U to £34 and Drivers’ Licenses under “The Motor Vehicles Act’’ of £4O. The only matter requiring comment is the m,any and varied forms of licenses, it is virtually necessary to pay a license or fee to do anything whatsoever. Pedestrians have so far escaped, but tor how long? Building permits issued being mainly for motor sheds and minor alterations total £2O 10s. this year against £9 last year; the value of the work covered by these permits being £9369, of which over £4200 is represented by the new wharf and shed. The new heavy tinliic regulations are no doubt drastic. Tlte raedeeming feature is that the license fees collected shall In: apportioned among the various local bodies and shall be used exclusively for road maintenance.

Uenorally. —The general financial position of the Borough as excellent anil i do not anticipate any adverse co lumen Is from tiie Audit Office in Uus regard. By this I do not mean Hint there is money to throw away, nut merely that liabilities have not, lieen incurred calling tor illegal doamigs with funds, the provisions oi. Uie local Itodics finance Act are very severe and due regard must at ail times be paid to tins of restricting legislation, The total public debt of me borough is £03,430 and there is still £3300 to come on account of the Water and -Drainage Loan and £llOO on account of the Drainage Connection Loan. The total amount levied in the form of rates was £4944 Is 8d of which £1737 has been collected. I do not propose any increase in the rates

Ibis year and have prepared estimates which leave the rate the same as last year, lOld in tin; £. It is extremely unlikely that any reduction in the rates can he made for sev ■ oral years as I pointed out under Water and Drainage, the ordinary rates total 53d in the £ the balance being for interest on the Water and Drainage Loan. Of course when the full amount of this loan is paid over there will be a corresponding increase in the interest rate and this will of course increase the total. The amount of general late levied is £2019. This year T propose levying £1984, the balance being nearly all for interest on other lo;tns. The amount of rates outstanding at the 31st March is fairly high £237, to which should he added the sum of £62 outstanding for last year. These accounts are all in the solicitor’s hands for collection. The sum of £6O was allowed by way of discount for prompt payment while £54 was collected in the form of 10 per cent, penalty for late payment. One ratepayer 1 am told consulted the Auditor as to whether the charge was legal and Iho advice to him was to pay up.

For the sake of convenience I have omitted shillings and pence in speaking of sums ol money and there are, no doubt, many other minor matters on which I could profitably touch. The balance sheet as prepared for audit is before you however, and further information can lie readily gleaned therefrom. My purpose, has been to give a rough outline of what has been done.

In concluding I must express sincere regret that so few of the old councillors are offering their services again. The relations between the present council and its employees have been of the lies! and I desire to thank you one and all for the consideration extended to the staff and for the manner in which the interests of the ratepayers have been attended to during your term of office, Yours Faithfully, Wlll. TRUEMAN, Town Clerk.