WHOLE COUNCIL TO BE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3983, 13 August 1929, Page 2

WHOLE COUNCIL TO BE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

COUNCILLORS “IN THE DARK.’

After lhe Clerk had read the financial statement at last night’s Borough Council meeting, €r. D. R. Barron asked that in future a more statistical (return be placed before the Council so that it would be possible -to tell exactly what amount of the estimates had been expended monthly and how much remained on hand. The Finance Committee met regularly, he said, and the report of their meeting and a financial statement was submitted to each monthly meeting but apart from this those not on the Finance Committee were “in the dark” with regard to the finances of the Council. If a statement as to the state of the estimates were submitted each month every Councillor would know exactly how much there was to spend in each individual branch of the Council’s activities and a good deal of the Council’s time would be saved because Councillors would not be asking that this and that be done if they knew the finances would not allow-it. Cr Barron said he had been asked in the street how much a certain weak cost and was unable to .give the details as he was not on the (Finance Committee. The Mayor-advised Cr. Barron to study the Council’s balance-sheet carefully. All the information he would require was to he found there. The Town Clekk was also only too willingly to explain any matter to any individual Councillor. Cr. Cowley: In Wellington the whole Council is a finance committee-. ICr. Thompson said that a good deal of the Council’s time was wasted by the fact that the Standing Orders were not adhered to. He opposed the whole Council being a finance committee.' Cr. F. Robinson: Why should we be confined to a time limit. If we can get a good argument up we will g’et the brains of the Council into the discussion —if there a.re any! The Mayor: The Standing Orders have to be abided by Cr. Robinson. Cr. Rangiheuea endorsed Cr. Barron’s remarks. The Clerk explained the difficulty there would be in providing a more detailed financial statement each month. Cr. Thompson said that if the whole Council wfis to comprise the Finance Committee it meant that two meeting a month would be held and there was not sufficient business to (warrant that. He was already attending two meeting a month as it was. iCtr. F. Robinson: We are here in the interests of the ratepayers and if (it means four meetings a month we should have them! The Council has.been asleep too long and it’s time we pushed the borough on.

It ivas decided that the names of those Councillors not already on the Finance Committee be added thereto.