HALF YEAR’S REVIEW.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 37, 13 October 1915, Page 7

HALF YEAR’S REVIEW.

The Town Clerk (Mr P. Skogluud) presented tin? following report at the Council meeting on Monday night:—

“i have the honor lo place heloro yon a stalei lent ol the receipts aiul expenditure (ompared with the annual estimates I'oi the peiiod ending 30th September, 1915. A careful perusal ol the expenditure will show that :i policy ol economy should he followed lor the ensn.ng six months. Though

in some of the items it appears that the expenuit no has hugely exceeded the estimate . this is not altogether so, and Joi . liis reason : Streets, tor instance, show an estimated expenditure for the year ol £2639, and actual expenditure lor six months of £'l/30. In this case over L'599 represents payment for bnualers, while the estimate for this item for twelve months is C/'SI), However, other items under the lieadin*.; of streets have been over expended owing to circumstances over which, at t.ie time the estimates were prepared, the Council had no control. Payment of wages has been larger than expected owing to more casual labor being employed than was thought necessary, and for the ensuing six months, owing to the increase granted to the men, this item will still further exceed the estimate. It follows, therefore, that some economy should be elfected in the expenditure on the streets. This may immediately bo done by stopping the delivery of any further boulders. A very large quantity has already been delivered in addition to a large quantity of shingle. At the beginning of the year there were 300 y; rds of crushed material and 300 yar Is of boulders on hand, so that if no it r.hcr boulders are delivered the material at present on hand will almost equal the estimated requirements. His Worship the Mayor is in accordance with this proposal. Other items u hich have been over-ex-pended are sundries and water aud drainage, finder the heading of sundries is included payments for compensation for surrender of lease £33, and donatioji do Technical School £lO. Further expenditure under this hea ling will be small, the greater amounts estimated having been expended during the first six months. The expenditure necessary to instal the now system of nightsoil disposal, and the repairs rendered necessary at the waterworks instake owing to floods accounts for the over expenditure under the heading water and drainage. Part ol this expenditure will be recouped from sanitation fees. Expenditure on lire prevention purposes will also exceed the estimate. Although the statement shows an available balance ol £29, this month’s accounts include amounts totalling £l3. As against the losses above-mentioned, there will bo a saving of £69 to £7O on lighting account ami £79 on Town Hall account. An

item of £75 also appears on Hie estimates for a bridge at Ariel Street, though this question has not yet been finally decided by the Council. Inking everything into account, very careful consideration ol tin* Council’s financial resources is necessary and only works of a most urgent character should be undertaken until the Council Inis the opportunity of framing the estimates for next year.”

IIi s Worship stuted tliut the Council would, iu the next six months, have to go .ry slowly. Cr. iluntt . said the Council ought not to spend money except lor reproductive purposes, and that work of a minor nature should not be done unless practically compelled. Money was very dear at the present, time, and it would get dearer still. “Wo will simply have lo do without a lot ot things the same as a man does in his private house,” concluded Cr. Hunter.

The Mayor said, regarding the expenditure for lire prevention purposes, Gin. pipes.had been put in, and these were very expensive. 1 hat account was overspent about £‘dU or £l3O. The Council had incurred very heavy expenditure in the building of the weir and road metalling.

The Mayor moved, and Cr. Thompson seconded, that the taking of boulders out ol the river bo suspended, for the present. Mr Boon stated that the Council had a big supply of boulders and stone on hand, and these were quite millicient for the time being. The time for getting bowlders out of the river is the summer months and not the inter. The carting of the boulders mas being done by day labor. Cr. Hancock said Co per week was a large sum for horse feed. | A Councillor stated that the Council had four horses and, the expense would not recur in the next six months as they had a quantity ol local on hand. Cr. Voting said the best work the Council could put money into wits in connection with the collecting and crushing of 1 be boulders. The Mayor stated there was a large supply of stones in the yards, ami it the men continued on the work of carting the stones it would be useless.

Tlk> .Mayor moved, and Cr. deling sccondod, That the Council call tenders lor the carting ol boulders out of the creek on Flint Hoad, the Stratford County Council to pay half the cost. —Carried.