DEVONPORT RATES MUST BE INCREASED

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 72, 16 June 1927, Page 14

DEVONPORT RATES MUST BE INCREASED

THE MAYOR ALLEGES EXTRAVAGANT METHODS BY PAST COUNCILS

In the course of a 1,000-word explanation of the reasons for the increasing of Devonport’s rates by a halfpenny, Mr. Aldridge, the Mayor, last night told the Borough Council that for the last six months, at least, the Devonport borough expenditure had been out of all proportion to its necessities. Desire to artificially remedy adverse economic conditions had led to an orgy of over-staffing and expenditure of loan money. He could say that never from the Mayoral chair or in the exMayor’s public utterances was any indication given of the true sthte of borough affairs. The policy of having separate committees was partly to blame for the trouble, but with the whole council as a committee and with caire and economy he was sure the council could pull through this year. Of the staff of 106 in the borough employ it had been found desirable to dismiss 44, and two more would go also.. The wages sheet amounted to £52 2 per week and the £4,000 which would be available for public works this year would only pay the wages of 20 men at £5 weekly for 10 months, not allowing for the purchase of materials. A. 4d rate on the unimproved value was needed to meet the interest bill on £285,475, the total rateable value being £1,172,000. Then the hospital levy of £2,943 used a farthing rate on the capital value; the street lighting charge of £2,100 required a id rate; and a 2d levy for public works would give £9,500; which would be supplemented by rents and subsidies and sundry collections to reach a total of £18,055. Administration expenses would absorb £4,765 and out of the balance £2,300 had already been spent. The total levy would be 6Jd on the unimproved value. The water rate was not changed, being 15s per half-year, plus Is 3d per 1,000 gallons for all consumption over the minimum. Out of the unemployment, loan of £22,000 raised last year only £B,SOO remained to finish the works on Queen’s Parade wall, the widening of Lake Road and building a sea wall at Narrow Neck Beach; the latter would not be completed out of the money available; which would only last for five months at the rate of expenditure.

No financial provision had been made for the work of filling behind the wall on Queen’s Parade and as several parts of the borough urgently needed footpaths it would be necessary to raise a small loan. A £d rate would give only £2,400 for work but would pay interest on a loan of £32,000. Compared with other bodies the rates were less than any of the marine boroughs and only little heavier than Auckland city. Mr. J. Hislop, chairman of the Finance Committee of the last council, said he took his share of the blame for the position, but the borough was very sound and could easily stand a loan; he was not at all pessimistic. The money had gone, and for the first time in six years all financing had to be done out of revenue, but the roads, water systems and drainage had been done, though they did figure as assets.