Municipal Administration.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8192, 18 May 1906, Page 7

Municipal Administration.

Mayoral Address.

The Mayor, Mr M. Cohen, addressed a meeting of ratepayers at the Municipal Hall last night on Borough matters. There was not a crowded attendance, about 100 people being present. Mr W. Park presided. The Mayor prefaced his remarks with the observation that he trusted he could take the small attendance as a further indication of the confidence in him that had resulted in his return to office unopposed, a confidence that did not requiro any enlargement upon. He came before them with a clear conscience, feeling quite certain he could • satisfy them upon any point of municipal administration. Ho expressed his thanks for and due appreciation of the honour of having been again placed in his high office, and explained that he gave the present address in preference to delivering it at the Mayoral installation owing to the somewhat inconvenient hour of the latter, when the great ma- | jority of the ratepayers could not be present. Alluding to any remarks he might make as to future administration, he said that anything, said would be about subjects he deemed worthy of the consideration of his councillors, who, after all, were the ones to decide, he only suggesting. Reference was made to the several accounts comprising the accountancy of the Council, explanations being made of the mode of procedure in connection with them and their effect one upon the other. He stated that when the present Council took office there was a debit balance of £7374, and liabilities of £3566, making a total of £10,940. This year they left office with a debit balance ot £10,588 and liabilities of £891, total £11,479. They had therefore increased the balance during the past year by about £539, after having paid off fully £3000 worth of liabilities. Reference was made to the funds at the disposal of the Council when it took office, £417, and to the fact that he had twelve months ago indicated that they would end the year's work with a debit balance of something like £10,000 odd. Allusion was made to the fact that with barely an exception he had carried out the improvements and alterations that he had promised last year, and he enumerated them, including the waterworks, the Hokowhitu contracts, and several other works of a like nature but not of the same magnitude. Ho added that his daily meetings with the ratepayers, during prescribed hours, had been most successful m smoothing away certain little difficulties of interest to the individual but not of general moment. The overdraft during the year had been raised by £3200, but it now remained at a figure that left £10,000 to come and go upon during the year. Figures were quoted showing the expenditure ot the money during the past year on general maintenance and other necessary work. The Mayor made reference to the policy initiated during the year of carrying out the maintenance work by day labour instead of by contract |as previously. The change he said had | worked admirably, giving the greatest satisfaction. He defended the policy of only placing on the estimates those works that it was seriously intended to carry out during the year. This course had been followed in the preparation of the new estimates, while at the same time contingencies had been allowed for that would not make it necessary to say " no " to any reasonable request. He detailed the several matters that had come before the Council during the past year, including the great question of suitable metal for the town streets, the gift of a reserve for an experimental dairy | station to the Government, the importance of which he dwelt upon as an aid to making the district the centre of one of the most valuable jof the colony's industries. General allusion was made to the waterworks proposals and the work that was being carried out now— part and parcel of a larger and completed scheme suitable for the requirements of the town for several years to come at the present rate of progress. They believed that the revenue from water works would enable them as the years rolled by to extend and increase the reticulation until every corner of the borough was served with a full and ample supply. He pointed out that the water works labour was being carried out by day labour but the cost was being checked month by month, and if it exceeded the engineer's estimate they would want to know the reason why. The question of the Hew by-laws, the establishment of abattoirs, taking over new streets, the improvement of others in accordance with requirements, the weigh-bridge, the- Fire Brigade question, and numerous other similar matters were also touched upon. Alluding to the corning year the Mayor said that the estimated year's income was £11,397 taking into consideration £7200 general rates, which really meant the raising of the rates. The total income provided for the fixed charges, salaries, lighting, £900 ; Fire Brigade £300, which was raised from £150 last year; drivers of water carts, expense in this connection had doubled during the past year. Last year street maintenance and metalling had been credited with £1500; this year the amount Bet asido totalled £2000. The Council was also committed to expenditure under other heads as, for instance, the subsidy to the bands, the clock and chimes, the Technical school and the New Zealand Exhibition. There were also amounts that hid been promised or incurred at a prior date and became due this year, including the £350 for the Pohangina Bridge, the borough stables, £400; the Fire Brigade vote had been risen from £150 to £300, brick party wall in the Square, £183 ; and the Linton-street extension £150. In addition to all this there was the necessary improvement to Main-street West from the Square to the station at a cost of £810 for road work alone and an estimated cost of £125 for a footpath on the southern side of that road, a provision absolutely necessary in view of the present congested state of the traffic. In addition another £1200 had been allocated for the tramway and horses m connection with the mofeal scheme, and £000 for contingencies.. The overdraft on March 31st was £5100. The legal limit was £15,000, thus leaving a margin of £10 000 to go upon. This limit, however, was subject to the requirements of the \udit Department as at March 31st in each year, it being insisted upon that all outstanding liabilities and mortgages, etc were to be added to the amount An as owing to the bank The average liabilities under this head, including the amount owing on the Colonial Buildings, the Mayor estimated at about £4000. Thus on the 31st March in each yeartho available legal overdraft was reduced to £11,000,

There was, however, another point which -had been aptly stated in an article appearing in the Standard on a contingency-such as had arisen this jear, viz., the delay in holding tho Assessment Court would prevent tho rates coming in until September pext, and whereas che average expenditure was estimated at £1000, per month, it would be seen that prudence dictated that sufficient margin should always be kept on the overdraft so as to provide for such contingencies as this, and so, also, that the Council would not be placed in an embarrassing position owing to, at any time during their term of office, J anticipating all their funds available by overdraft. In this connection the Mayor stated that Palmerston was extremely fortunate in having all its rates collected. He cited the position that might arise if, for instance, their rates became £2000 in arrear. Prudence again dictated that the overdraft should never be more than £7000 or £8000, even though they had a legal limit of £15,000. Under present circumstances the only way to meet the position was by increasing the rates and provide another £900, and a rate of Is 4d in the pound would do this. It was not to be supposed that the growing needs of tho town could be satisfied with the present rate, and it would not be fair to raise the overdraft and leave it to a future Mayor to raise the rate. He knew that it was a most unpopular subject, but he did not care for popularity gained in the manner indicated. He had sufficient backbone to raise the rate himself. He would not leave it for someone else to do it. (Applause). He desired to do his duty, and it was a measure of safety and prudence to raise the rate. They all desired progressive works, roads, paths, etc., and if they were required they must be paid for. The new valuation did not affect the question at all. He required £900 and no more, and irrespective of the valuation a rate to provide that sum only would be struck. (Applause). Continuing, the Mayor dwelt at length upon the up-to-date road construction scheme approved of by the Council details of which have been published as they came before the Council. Referring to the present sewerage contracts the Mayor said another £8000 would be required to complete the work decided upon, provide for drainage in streets that had become thickly populated since the adoption of the scheme and also to provide a fund from which ratepayers could obtain funds to make their house connections with the sewers. In conclusion the Mayor referred to the excellent relations prevailing between himself and the Council, and he added, amidst laughter, that if " rows" had been required to promote the welfare of the town they could no doubt have been provided. His desire had been to raise Palmerston high in colonial estimation and promote the comfort and happiness of its people. If during his term of office he had contributed to that in even a very small degree he felt that his time and labour had not been in vain. (Applause.)

Replying,to Mr G. Allman, Mr Cohen said if £4000 would not be sufficient to provide funds required for ratepayers' connections with the sewers, more money would have to be obtained. To Mr Dewar the Mayor said in connection with the waterworks that no main of less than 1 inches would be laid in any street. Replying to Mr Gittings, the Mayor said the town had, thanks to Mr Collingwood, the proud distinction of having no rates in arrear last year and this year they were under £10. (Applause). Votes of thanks to the Major and the chairman terminated the proceedings.