INCREASE IN BOROUGH RATES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 484, 24 June 1919, Page 2

INCREASE IN BOROUGH RATES.

Topping the Hurdle In accordance with notioe of motion given at the previous meeting of the Council,- the Mayor (Mr C. K Lawrie) moved "that the general rate of Id in the £be increased to lid in the £. Or Dent in seconding, said the Council could not go on improving the Borough without increasing the general rate. Wages and material had doubled in price and these expenses had to be met out of the general rate. There was no alternative but to increase it.

Or Bilkey protested agaiast any increase. He pointed out that the Borough finances were quite as bad when the previous Council took office. The increase was suggested then, but it failed, and the Council managed to carry on alright. In fact, the position was worse than now. They were up against hurdles, just as the present Council were. To overcome the difficulty he advocated the laising of a loan. They wanted roads, water and light. He contended that the roads were in good order now, and the cost of upkeep this year would not be very great. Cr Dent: The previous Council was up against the hurdle. The present Council wanted to get over the hurdle and get going again, and the extra £d in the £ would help them.

The Mayor said the Finance Committee had fully considered the financial position, and there was no alternative but to increase the rate. Certainly they could .increase the overdraft up to the limit, but the interest they were paying was dead money, which, he considered from a financial point of view, was not advisable. As he had said before, he was bringing down loan proposals, and if they failed next year the Council would be " up against it" worse than even.

Tne motion was carried. Cr Bilkoy voting against it.