The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1912. BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 86, 10 April 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1912. BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

The balance sheet of the Borough. of Stratford for the year ending Marcji 31st, 1912, completed with dcspatcl: by our able Town Clerk; Mr P. Skoglund, makes interesting reading to the student of municipal affairs. The statement under notice is divided into sections, showing the receipts and ex--penditpre for various accounts under separate headings, the first section dealt With being the account ; kept for the general purposes of, the Borough, including in its figures the receipts from general, lighting, and hospital and charitable aid rates, license fees, refunds, rents and sundries. The total amount received from the abovenamed sources to March 31st was as under:—General rates, £2491, license fees, £614; refunds, £130; , rents, £223; sundries, £384; making a total of £3842. This amount was accordingly available during the year for the purpose of paying salaries, administration expenses, street maintenance; charitable aid, fire prevention, light-j ing, interest and sundry expenses. The details of the expenditure under the above-noted headings are as follows: Salaries, £412; administration, £319; Streets, £1166; lighting, £238; fireprevention, £135; sundry expenses, £145; interest on Bank overdraft. £136; hospital and charitable aid, £131; making a total expenditure for the twelve months of £2985. These figures show that, during the year, for general purposes only, the Council effected a saving of £857. In addition to the above-detailed expenditure the Council had to make provision for losses on the working of the Library and Heading Room amounting to £ll, and on the Town Hall amounting to £22, milking a total of £33. The abattoirs account shows a profit cf £l9, 'Which has to be added to the £857 on general purposes. .Deducting the £33 loss on Library and Town Hall, the total saving effected if; £Bl3. As the general account still shows a debit balance of £2955, it is manifestly right that the Council should, having due regard'for the proper maintenance of our streets, still pursue a policy of economy. With its restricted revenue, however, it is manifestly impossible for the Council to contemplate the undertaking of any necessary new works of any magnitude out of ordinary receipts, and as streets improvements are urgently necessary, it might be well to adopt a policy in the direction of providing a sufficient sum out of the general fund of the Borough to be applied to the purpose of paying interest on a reasonable loan for such improvements. Another most urgent necessary work, which the Council ought to consider, is, undoubtedly, the adoption of means For the greater purification of Stratford's water supply and the extension of our drainage System. In the more densely populated parts of our Borough proper drainage is an ever-growing necessity, and the question ought to bo raced and grappled with. With regard to the increased purification r.f the water supply -\ve are led to nelieve that a

sound scheme of filtrat'nn conli'l ho carried out at n cost not exceeding £2OOO, iinr: if tin', estimate i& n >orrect ono the Council should iavo tac'cl-

cd the matter before this: the muddy and repulsive-looking fluid we woro. served with yesterday was surely ■-ivU) dence enough of the need for a movemint in this direction Referring again to the balance-sheet, v.e find from a separate account therein that, the water account has a credit I,ml--of £982. What lias become of this amount? There can only be one answer: the money lias been appropriated for general purposes in the past, but we think the time has arrived when ratepayers might reasonably demand that the profits from this source be expended in the direction of an improved water-supply service. During the year just ended, the profits on the water account amounted to £l2O, a sum more than sufficient to meet interest and sinking fund on a loan of £2OOO. Will the candidates for the .Mayoralty at the coming election make a note of this and let the ratepayers know that 'this serious matter shall receive attention without further.delay. We also are of opinion that the matter of drainage extension should, in the immediate future receive the attention it demands. The increased rentals derived from the Broadway.premises owned by the municipality will result in an increase of revenue of nearly £SOO. per annum, and if this extra revenue is secured it would provide for a £IO,OOO loan, if such amount is required, for drainage works. The matter is at least worth the consideration of the Council. It.has been decided to purchase a road-roller, the Council having seen its way clear financially, and we should like to see an attempt made to provide for, say, half the cost in the present, year's estimates. If tin's is done, there is no reason why a loan of £SOOO for street improvements should , not be considered also by the Council without increasing the rate burden of pro-perty-owners beyond the amount struck .last year. With a sincere effort on the part of Mayor and Council to pull together in harmony for the welfare and progress of our growing town why a policy such as outlined above should not be successfully inaugurated and carried into effect. We have the greatest confidence in Stratford's future, and if members of the Council are imbued with a similar spirit the near future should witness important steps being taken by our municipal fathers to assist Stratford in ( the course of progress which 'the town's central position assures.