CIVIC STATISTICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5662, 23 May 1879, Page 3

CIVIC STATISTICS.

(From the New Zealand Times, May 8.) The latest volume of New Zealand statistics supplies us with the necessary data for comparing the financial position of this city with that of the other chief towns in New Zealand. For the information of those who have neither time nor inclination to compare the figures for themselves, we have extracted the more important items of the accounts of the four chief cities from the general tables published in the official volume, and placed them side by side in a tabular form to facilitate comparison. We have also prepared tables, published in another column, showing the average indebtedness per. head of population, the annual value of property owned per ratepayer, and the percentage of ratepayers to population in the four cities. Those persons who take an interest in such matters will be able to deduce their own conclusions from the figures given, and we trust that the information contained in the tables may also prove of service to councillors who are desirous of obtaining a clear idea of the monetary position of the Corporation.

A consideration of the revenue and expenditure of Wellington alone as it appears in the tables, shows that about one-third of the total revenue from all sources is derived from rates, one-sixth from Government, and the remainder from rents, tolls and licenses, &c. The assets cover about 40 per cent of the liabilities, and consequently, although the average indebtedness per head of each citizen in the town on the gross liabilities is £l4, if the assets are deducted, the actual amount of debt is a trifle less than £8 per head of population. This must be considered a very light debt, seeing that the national debt of New Zealand for each man, woman and child in the colony amounts to over £SO. The proposals before the Council, including the loan for now streets and drainage, would scarcely double the present liabilities, and in view of the necessity for these works, and the value of theservices tobe rendered to every citizen, there appears to be but little cause for alarm in our present position. We presume that the assets would be slightly increased by the drainage expenditure. It is certain that the annual value of ratable property will be enormously increased by an efficient system of drainage and by the formation of roads and footpaths in the outlying parts of the city. A drainage rate will ,be no more burthensome than the scavengering fees now paid, and the health of the inhabitants is sure tobe greatly benefitted. The relief afforded to the crowded parts of the town by the opening up of new roads, and by giving ample access to the outlying parts of the city, is also one of the most, efficient means of securing the health of the inhabitants which can be devised, as the rate of mortality in cities is invariably very much higher than that within their suburbs. In Melbourne city, for instance, the annual death rate varies between 28 and 30 per 1000 ; in the suburbs, from 17 to 20 per 1000. Beferring to the comparative distribution of property among the citizens in the chief towns of New Zealand, it will be seen that in Auckland and Wellington property is the most widely distributed ; the percentage being about the same in each case ; in Auckland 13 persons out of every 100 are ratepayers ; in Wellington about ,the same proportion ; in Christchurch 11 per cent. ; and in Dunedin 10 per cent, of the population are ratepayers. If the ratable property were equally divided among all the ratepayers, the average value of that held by each in Wellington is very considerably less than in any other city. In Wellington the average annual value of the property owned by each ratepayer is about £63, in Christchurch and Dunedin more than £IOO, in Auckland about £79. In other words, it- appears that property in Wellington is far more widely distributed among the citizens than in any of the other towns under notice, and we confess that we consider this a most gratifying result of the investigation. It may be partly due to a difference in the practice of landlords, who elsewhere may be in the habit of paying all rates more frequently than is the case in this town. But this would be insufficient to explain the great difference. Be the cause what it may, the fact that so large a proportion of the adult males in the city appear as ratepayers is a subject for congratulation in itself. It is true that Wellington is also open to' the charge of having a less wealthy lot of ratepayers than any of the other towns under consideration, but the Corporation owes so little that it can afford.to disregard the sneer. With a larger revenue than any of our. neighbors it is highly satisfactory to be > able to point oiit that the sum expended ■ in salaries is considerably lower than that charged to the same account either in Christchurch or Dunedin. The total amount of rates levied is also greater than either of those two cities. We are unable to account for the small revenue in Christchurch. More than half the rates and one-third of the whole revenue appears to be swallowed Up in salaries. The revenue from Government also seems to be very small. It will be seen that the rates levied in Auckland exceed those in this town, and that, though the actual sinn expended in salaries is somewhat less than here, in proportion to the sums tobe dealt with, it is much greater. The cursory examination which has been bestowed upon the financial position of the Wellington Corporation has in our opinion given a fairly satisfactory result. The revenue in 1877-8, both from rates and from Government, was larger than that received by any of our compeers, the proportion. of ratepayers to population is high, and the amount paid away in salaries is wonderfully small. The present indebtedness of this town is insignificant, and the prospective debt, though considerable, does not threaten to increase the burden of the ratepayers to any inordinate extent. The valuation of the city recently completed shows that the annual value of property is increasing very rapidly, and ‘consequently the rate required to cover the interest on the debt will be likely to diminish, especially as statistics prove that the population of this city is growing much faster than elsewhere. Comparisons are said to be odious, but judging by the above figures the Corporation of Wellington can challenge comparison with its neighbors in respect to its financial position.

The relative financial positions o£ the four chief cities in the colony will be of interest to our readers at the present time, when our Wellington debt is likely to be increased. The figures necessary to check any of the calculations made are contained in one or other of the tables. The following tables show the revenue and expenditure of the four chief boroughs in New Zealand during to financial year ending March 31, 1878 : BETONDE.

The rates levied in Auckland were Is general and Is 3d special rate. In Wellington, la general, and Is special rate. In Christchurch, Ijd separate rate, and 5d special. In Dunedin, Is general, and 3d separate.

The average indebteduess is calculated upon the gross sum of liabilities given above, aud not upon the loans. The necessary data for checking the calculations are contained in one or, other of the above tables.

— From Government. From rates. Total < from all 1 sources. No. of ratepayers. 4? £ £ V Auckland .. 8.850 15,554 41.207 i.sso Wellington 8,550 17.571 51,654 • 1 2,565 Christchurch 1,671 9.126 10,170 1.570 Dunedin .. 7.271 11,170 35,638 2,400

EXPENDITURE. — Public L i ■ Works. | Sslanes ' 1 1 H 1 1 Net annual value 1 °* : property. Auckland.. Wellington Christchurch Dunedin .. £ j £ 45,345 3,217 117,297 3,379 15,597 5,176 107.196' 5.S21 73,832! 148.504 122,S35' 176,870 23.565 170.424 125,790 248,535 ASSETS AND LIABILITIES At date of balancing, the rate of interest being C per cent, in each case. — Assets. Liabilities including ■ loans. Loans. Auckland Wellington Christchurch Dunedin £ 119,477 107,184 11,614 234,194 £ 166,603 269,839 43,627 462,735 £ 155.000 220.000 35 000 370,000 We have prepared the following’ table showing the proportion of ratepayers to population, the annual value of the property owned per ratepayer, and the average amount of indebtedness of each citizens if property were equally divided among all :— — | Population. Average Indebtedness 1 per head of population. AnnualValuc of Property per -Ratepayer, Auckland Wellington .. Christchurch Dunedin 13.758 18,953 13.425 22,525 13 13 11 10 £ s. d. 12 0 0 14 0 0 12 0 0 20 0 0 £ s. d. 79 0 0 CS 0 0 108 0 0 103 0 0