CITY COUNCIL.
The adjourned meeting of the City Council took place yesterday. Present—His. "Worship the Mayor, Councillors George, Greenfield, Rainie, ' Mills, Moss, Gillon, : Cleland, f and Dransfield. > , : , ISSUE OP DEBENTURES. The Mayor brought under notice the letter from the Wellington Trust and' Loan Society, and said the debentures would be ready forissue in three days at least, when the society would immediately be placed in possession of the amount.
Councillor Gillon, in regard to this question must say that something more ought to be done than the mere settlement of, this £25,000 issue with the bank. • There was also a large overdraft on the waterworks account, on. which ' they were paying interest, and he thought the bank would be inclined to treat for the wholo debt on much more favorable terms than those on which it was now doing | the Council's business. Other bob.es had arranged for overdrafts at less than current rates; in the instance of the Nelson Council it was 2 per cent, below, and he had no doubt the same could be done in Wellington. He moved the appointment of a committee or sub-com-mittee to confer with the manager of the bank. Councillor Geoege seconded the motion, and, with the consent of the mover, wouldnominate a committee, viz., the Mayor, Councillors Mills and Dransfield. [Councillor Gillon assented.] These gentlemen could test the feelings of the manager, and if he were not disposed to offer more satisfactory terms they might go to other banks. Any bank would be glad to undertake the negotiation of the debentures. The Mayor said he had reason to believe that the bank was quite prepared to deal liberally with the Council. In fact, he might tell them that the result of several conversations he had had with the bank authorities had given him ground for expressing the opinion he had. CouncUlor George complained that the financial affairs of the Council had been neglected too long already, and he trusted some satisfactory arrangement would soon be made. The Mayor said doubtless it would be within the recollection of the Council that some time aco he gave notice of motion on the financial affairs of the town. At the time he contemplated that motion, he had gone very fully into the matter, and had prepared information with which to justify his motion. But circumstances had occurred since then which had shown him that to have disclosed the information in his possession would have been premature, and that the better course would be to maintain a discreet silence, which he had done. The inhabitants expected them to do something in a large way, and although the information he might have disclosed would, perhaps, have been exceedingly interesting to the Wellington population, they (the Council) had to consider the outside influence that would have to be encountered before they launched the proposals considered necessary. With reference to the bank accommodation, it would be as well not to embarrass themselves just now with small matters, but go no further than merely getting an assurance from the bank that accommodation would be given for a time at a reasonable cost, and although he was willing to co-operate with the committee in making a satisfactory arrangement, he would at once express his individual opinion that it would at present be inexpedient to do more than obtain from the bank a definite assurance of temporary assistance at a reasonable rate.
Councillor Gillon said the sole object of the committee would be to get better terms from the bank. That was their duty, and if they showed economy in small things, it would be the best recommendation they could have to induce Parliament to entrust them with the outlay of a large amount. He quite agreed with Councillor George ; they had allowed the overdraft to run on too long, and had lost a good deal by it, as the bank had been, only waiting to be asked for a reduction. Councillor Rainie objected to the discussion. It was most injurious to the Corporation to be thus discussing the manner in which it was intended to deal with the bank. He deprecated the course of business altogether. After a few words from the Mayor, The motion was put and passed. ' PKOPOSED IN'CREASE OF HATING POWER.
Councillor Geobije expressed a desire to proceed -with his motion relative to increasing the rating power of the Council. The Mayor said the notice was not on the paper for discussion that evening. Several Councillors stated that they quite understood that it was intended to be taken that evening ; and after, a short discussion, in which Councillor Moss urged the desirableness of the notice paper being more explicit, and even printed when heavy, the paper : was amended by the insertion of the notice. Councillor George then moved to the effect that the Council apply to Parliament to double the rating power of the Council, and also that all moneys received by the Council from the rental of the wharf, and bonded and 'other warehouses; be expended upon wharf extension. In supporting the motion, Mr. George said that although asking for power to levy double the amount of rates, it did not necessarily follow that if they got that power they would use it to its fullest extent, and therefore he trusted the motion would not be misunderstood.. Nor did they ask for powers beyond those possessed by other towns, Dunedin for example, which had the power of levying a general rate of 2s. 6d. in the pound, besides a special rate for kerbing. These, however, were not levied in full, and as he said before, it did not follow that the Wellington Council would double the rate though the power to do so were conferred on it. ; Before sitting down he would take the opportunity of alluding to the management of the finances of the Council, which he regretted to say was to his mind not at, all satis? factory. He found that their annual income from general rates was, in round num r bers, £7500 ; from the, water rate they der rived £4500, and from the wharf £8000; making in all £20,000. The annual outlay comprised-—permanent staff, £IBOO (an amount which might seem large, but which, could "with advantage to the city be increased rather than diminished) ; lighting, £600; presentconjtracts for metaland gravel, £6500 ; for wharf repairs, £ISOO ; cranes for the wharf,'£looo ; piermaster, £3OO ; making a total of.£li;7oo. Then came interest on the £25,000,10an, at 10 per cent., amounting to £2500 which, with the £I7OO interest due to bank.on £17,000 overdrawn account, brought up the interest charge to £4200 ; or, a total expenditure of £15,900, leaving but £4IOO. This £4IOO was all they had for defraying the- cost of any new works or extensions which might be necessary. Then to look at their liabilities. First, the actual liabilities from which they could not get away consisted of the debt to the Trust and Loan Company, amounting to £25,000 ; to the bank, £17,000—£10,000 overdraft on waterworks account, and £7OOO overdraft on general account or in all, £42,000. Immediate liabilities consisted' of waterworks extension, £BOOO ; and sundry contracts let, £IOOO ; in all, £9OOO. . If they went a little further' ■ and took a glance at the future, there was wharf extension, £15,000. For drainage they must expend a large sum, if they got it done for £75,000 it would be cheap ; and for reclaiming land, £120,000. Thus they had £210,000 to provide shortly. The waterworks, to date, had cost £35,000, and there was £IO,OOO still to be spent. These figures were the result of his enquiries into the state of the finances, and ho did not think them at all satisfactory. But besides these there were other works—and works of great importance too—to be done ; for instance, a road through the other end of the town, which was almost an absolute necessity, and new streets were required to be formed in various parts of the city. Yet, where was the money to come from ? The people expected the Council to do more : than it was possible for' it to do with the money placed at its disposal. If the people of Wellington would have improvements, the Council must ;mcot its duty by increasing its rates, so that the works might be executed. There could be no doubt that some of the officers were to a certain extent to blame for the state of dis-
satisfaction, promising improvements to locahties, and then, for want of funds, failing to perforin. If they had ,an increase of rates he .believed .it would help them out of their'difficulties, for every'street made returned capital interest, by the increased value of the property increasing the rates. He trusted the Council would fall in'with his views, and take action, as to be effective it must be speedy. Councillor Gillon seconded pro forma. He was sure every one must feel. thankful to Councillor George for the information he had supplied them with, but at. the same time he considered that gentleman had in the last few sentences' disproved his own argument, for when he told them—and very truly told them —that, every street we make returns us capital interest, he,answered himself completely. He (Councillor Gillon) said that if every street made returned interest, all the Council wanted was capital in the first place, and he was in favor of borrowing in preference to doubling the rates, for it must be remembered that doubling the ~r ates did not mean doubling the income. (Hear, hear.) There was a large laboring population in Wellington, and increased taxes must .bear very heavily upon them, probably have the effect of driving them beyond the city boundaries into the suburbs. The taxation already was heavy, and should a.fall in wages occur would be severely felt. Councillor Mills agreed with Councillor Gillon in opposing the motionj but took exception to his remarks as.to the laboring classes being overtaxed. . He considered they were in as good a position as regards the amount of taxation they paid as other classes were. Councillor Gillon explained that he had used the term not as applying to laborers merely, but rather to all other than propertied men. :
Councillors Rainie, Cleland, Moss, and Greenfield also spoke to the motion, expressing their sense of the trouble Councillor George had been to, but regretting they could not support him, holding that posterity should be called upon to bear a part of the cost of permanent improvements to the 1 city. The Mayor also took up the same position ; and as to the financial prospect, said that although their engagements were undoubtedly large,— perhaps understated by Councillor George,—still there was no cause for depression,, as there were many things to be considered on the other side of the account. The motion, by consent, was withdrawn. half-yearly payment of rates. Councillor Gillon moved that the rates be collected half-yearly instead of annually. He did hot think it would involve any increase of the staff, as alleged at the previous meeting. He did not see the absolute necessity of a clerk taking himself off exactly at 4 o'clock, whether the work was done or not, and even if the officers had occasionally to work a few horn's extra, -it would not kill them. The privilege of paying half-yearly would be an advantage to the ratepayers and a gain to the Council, and if the clerks could not perform the work in the present length of office hours, it would be as well to tack another hour to the day. A discussion ensued, in which Councillors Cleland, Mills, George, Moss, Rainie, and the Mayor took part, after which the motion was put and carried.
WILLIS-STKEET. Councillor Gillon moved, —"That in the opinion of this Council it is necessary that Willis-street, from Harbor-street to Mannerstreet, should be widened to the present width of Custom-house-quay, and that his Worship the Mayor, and Councillor George, and the mover be appointed a, committee, to enquire into and report as to the best method of effecting the improvement." The desirability of the work must be patent to every one, therefore he should not trouble them with any remarks in support. He merely asked for a committee.
Councillor GeOME seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. botchers' hawking licenses.
Councillor Gillon moved that the petition presented by him at the last meeting from a number of butchers be acceded to. The carts could not be deemed to be hawker's carts, and it was absurd to enforce licensing. If they were licensed, bakers' carts should also be licensed. Councillor George seconded, and the Mayor supported the ' motion, which was carried unanimously. THE WATER RATE BOOK. Councillor Gillon moved —"Thatthe water rate book should be made up so as to show the amount chargeable to each ratepayer on the date on which the annual.rate becomes due, and also a supplementary monthly account of charges on amount of services, extension of mains, or erection of new premises." He said he had found some time ago, when acting on the Waterworks Committee, that the extension of tlie service to newly-built premises had not been reported to the Town Clerk, and that in consequence as many as 122 persons had escaped paying for two months, and CO or 80 for one month. The motion was seconded, and carried unanimously. TAKING OVER PRIVATE STREETS. Councillor Gillon moved, pursuant to notice, —" That the Town Clerk be instructed to write to owners of the roadways in the private streets of Turnbulland College streets, intimating the.willingness of the Council to take over the said streets." It was merely a formal motion, following out the recommendations of the Public Works Committee adopted by the Council. Councillor Clelanb seconded. > i..> Carried nem. con. ■' DEATH OF COUNCILLOR BORLASE. The Mayor said he could not allow the proceedings to close without referring to the great loss the Council and the city had sustained in the death of the late Councillor Borlase, and he was sure he was expressing the feeling of the Council when he said they deeply sympathised with' Mrs. Borlase in her sad affliction. (Hear, hear.) , It was.decided to forward a letter of condolence to Mrs. Borlase. In reply to Councillor Gillon, The Mayor said he intended to take the necessary steps next day for filling the vacant chair at the Board. The Council adjourned at 10 p.m.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4421, 21 May 1875, Page 3
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2,393CITY COUNCIL. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4421, 21 May 1875, Page 3
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