THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1920. TOWN BOARD FINANCE.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 23 June 1920, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1920. TOWN BOARD FINANCE.

In our iss.ue of iri'iay la-t we pu»j-----i-.ppd the estimated receipt* and exfcaditure of the Otaki Town Bourn tor the rear ending Murcii ;-uc. at tile ;sEC time, gave tie text ot H»aae comment? nus : - hr- yujum&n of the Board • ilr J. P- Bra:, iouyj.t.ta respect t-j the Boat’- ~ nuance*. •; ; r-.ke interesting reading. ai-'l ■'•ell rc par more than cursors careful pe-ru.-nl show.' that the 80-u.-i finances are in anything hut a sati-fac--r;' position: indeed so the position that it demand--- me immediate and most thorough > c - 3 tion i.*y the commissioner- ate J-- r y ! '-' payer' with a view to arris uni nt a line action "hat mil ' till ' : -‘ J- hostate of affair.-, it wiii u --eeti that the Board commented la-t year • debit balance of • odd. and cedft with a deficit of £l2t».'. Thus thy. finished £3>'<:» wor« than they --tarteu. although very little roonej t ••• '! p'y in permanent improvement-. !?pect..*i note -iio’.ihl he n." J- V v.liiie Itc U't«u .t-U-Oiiiit i*u lected last year was ottiy fa-tJ 5s lvwthere was outstanding at the en-i pt last rear, in rates and penalties, no !er than’£l3oo Is 2d—£l3oo in outstanding _uie-. when the total receipts for the rrhalc rear only amounted to £13271

’liink of il! Is it tiny wonder tliat jcal body, aiVtiirs stagnate when this w ort ol‘ tiling is allowed to exist! We h ontend there is ho excuse for such -a urge proportion oi' rates to remain nilolleeted. Other neighbouring local jodies collect practically the whole of - lie rates levied, and even allowing for lie admitted diiliculty in collecting Native rates, it must be remembered' 0 ilia t these only amount to about * ane-iii’th of the whole in the town distriet, while of last year’s unpaid rates £631 was owing by Europeans. Xo ] wonder the Board is always on the verge of bankruptcy, when such carelessness is allowed to continue... We lirmly believe the greater part of the rates could be collected if a real effort were made. When urged by the Chairman to take drastic action in this matter, the Board decided to advertise that all rates not paid within fourteen days would be sued for. We have a. recollection that the Board has passed similar resolutions on many previous occasions. What is wanted is delimite action, and not simply talk and passing resolutions. Why. if a private person ■ were to carry on his business in* the manner that the Otaki Town Board has done in the past lie would soon be in the Bankruptcy Court. The Board as at present constituted is no more to blame than previous Boards—perhaps not so much—while credit must be given to IMr Brandon for his honest efforts to place matters on a better i basis. Apart from the rate question, tin* position revealed by the chairman is bad. liven if all the rates are collected this current year, alter providing for standing changes, there will be nothing left for new works, and if the town is to make a forward movement it means that loans will have to be secured for permanent improvements. The position of the finances, as outlined by Mr Brandon, reveals a serious position. that demands prompt attention from tin* Board anil the ratepayers. We are given to understand that Mr Brandon intends to call a public meeting nt r.n early date, and place tin* position clearly before if This would be n wise step, and should certainly help the proposed borough movement. The formation of a borough, would enable n much wider area- to be brought under the local body, thus increasing its scope at very lit 1 1«* extra expense. It would also facilitate any new loans required, and w»* must have loan money if the town is not. to stagnate. Mr Brandon deserves the Blanks of the Board and Bn* public for having gone so fully into the Board's Jinancia! position, and placid it so clearly Before them. Without blaming anyone in particular, it would appear that the Otaki Town Board affairs are badly in need of a spring ( leaning, and if might be wise to Jiave a thorough overhaul in every department. There has been too much laxity shown in various departments. THE BOROUGH PROPOSAL. Once again there is a. movement afoot to form Otaki into a borough, and thi- time there is every prospect of the . proposal being carried info effect. { Otaki should have been a borough j years ago. However, 1 here we-' opposij tion then to the proposal, and residents j though.! i’ advisable to form a town j district for the time being, and merge • into a borough later on. Under the f present condition, the Town Board 3- £ lm iK.-rcd : its operations are narrowed ■: dove, it- borrowing powers limited, ; and its income is so small that it is. 1 almost: impossible to carry out. improvej meats that are urgently required. If a j borough were formed, the town area j V. ouhf ho very much enlarged, thu* increasing the income very materially. : while the extra cost of administration 1 would in- exceedingly small. Then. ! r the new conditions, the munieij nabty would be aide to undertake new works that arc at present out of the <;or-?ion. Apart, from all ibis, the ■hang*- would give n-<-t : go to the • which a* ore-* :: 4 . though Jar J p.»pu)«oi- and ol greater import- : than many o.i • irg boroughi* • •]: d awmg the -mailer low?.- of ! h m.piut.a c. The petition for a i be:ough *3- now ?u Mr-mm ’ ion •ad '• 1 :•* ;eg largely sign'd. There are a i* ■” a.re opposing :* be. r_*i-.- tb* y do not fully •understand the position. | U have been asked io point out that t *m rounds ru - of the propo-ed ’borough : , ; „• \.\v be a 1 r ere<\. as thcy ■ • • *•, fevi»:o: t.-y a comnus- : will b. appointed bv the a nr- which will Lea r any o’: 3or- - ?fc:»r may be raised to the • : W. v.ouid urg*- all who have the j irs* crests Of the tow;-: at hm-r: to give jfU • i:cnttv support to rorward