RATES UP A HALFPENNY ?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 381, 15 June 1928, Page 12

RATES UP A HALFPENNY ?

HOSPITAL LEVY CAUSES INCREASE CITY COUNCIL DEFERS DISCUSSION IF the City Council adopts the estimates which were presented last evening:, the city rate, which went up Id last year, will be increased by a further halfpenny for the ensuingyear.

The cause of the increase is the lar-g-er amount the Hospital Board has levied on the council. The general rate has shown the possibility of a drop of fourpence, largely duetto decreased street maintenance, the main corresponding increase being on the special rate, which covers loan and interest indebtedness, and is this year increased by 4j!>d, while the drainage rate "as set down at one halfpenny lower. The Mayor presented the following comparative table as approved by the committee of chairmen: ~ 1927-28. 1928-29. d - s. d. General rate . . . . l ■ 95 1 5i Library o 1 3 ft Hospital 0 4J 0 5 Dram age 03 0 2* sanitation 03 n Special 1 % 4 g* T . otal . 3 U ' 3 1H Following: is a summary of the proposed expenditure from the various accounts, compared with last year’s estimates:— 1927-28. 1928-29. £ £ General .... 348,998 299 358 Waterworks . . 82,550 70^60 Library . . . 13,415 13,100 Hospital .... 40,254 53 650 Drainage .... 26.544 27’9!)S Sanitation . . . 26,450 29*290 Interest .. .. 361,400 456,175 Totals . . . £909,911 "£950,531 The amounts of waterworks account expenditure shown are exclusive of interest, the totals—£44,soo and £62,200 respectively—being included in the interest account. Estimates of the proceeds from rates are as follow: 1927-2 S. 1925-29. Rate. Amount. Rate. Amount „ , s - <l. £ s. d. £ General . . 1 9J 189,700 1 5* 179,964 Library . . 1 8,980 1 1 0,280 Hospital . . 41 40,439 5 51 415 Drainage . . 3 27,092 3 25*707 Sanitation . 3 24,590 3 28*005 Interest ..1 2 126,030 1 6J 159]573 3 11 £416,831 3 11J £484,944 Arrears . . . 16,600 24^075 Totals . £432,831 £509,019

Separate rates are levied for water, the estimate receipts in the special account being £120,500, as against £114,800 last year. “Had we not been forced to pay the increased hospital levy, which involved another halfpenny rate, we would have managed to get along with the same rate as last year.” remarked the Mayor* \n presenting the estimates. The £710,000 loan was spent a year and ahalf ahead, which prevented the further relief of unemployment. from that source. COUNCILLOR ALLUM EXPLAINS Councillor J. A. C. Allum said it was unfortunate that the hard time in the unemployment market had fallen at the same time as the big loan was spent. The reduction in the general rate had been brought about by the reduction in maintenance, which had resulted from the improvements made with the £710,000 street loan. “This year the waterworks account was bearing large costs on work not yet bearing fruit. The new filtration plants were costing an extra £12,000 a year. The hospital levy was outside the council’s jurisdiction. The committee of chairmen had given very serious consideration to the figures.” COUNCILLOR PHELAN OBJECTS “I regret that I am not able to swallow the estimates holus-bolus,” remarked Councillor E. J. Phelan. He pointed out that the usual procedure of the council was to hold a special meeting to consider the estimates. As it was, they had just received the figures, and were quite unable to know what was included and what was not. After spending 20 minutes discussing whether it would deal with the estimates or not, the council finally decided to hold a special meeting on Tuesday evening next to discuss the estimates.

AUCKLAND’S WORKING ACCOUNT

1928-1929 Summarised from the estimates sub mitted to the City Council last evening. GENERAL ACCOUNT. ESTIMATED RECEIPTS. ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE Rates 179,964 Balance, April 1 \ 619 Arrears of rates 13.500 Committees— * ’ J Endowment rents 29,000 Finance 65 564 fences 32.500 Legal and By-laws 12 500 Miscellaneous 44,750 Parks and Reserves .. .. 59,665 Works 152.410 Town-planning 3^ooo Museum 2,000 Library 1,600 Credit Balance 356 £299,714 £299,714 WATER WORKS. Ji »ra^,tuVe-.:-.v:: 5,,.*. 58.000 Interest account 6' J "00 nphi hhV. 2 - 000 Sinking fund ..... »4.200 Debit balance 3,080 Purchase of land ... .. .. 9,960 £133,160 £133,160 LIBRARY. ?^i‘ April 1 £j32 Maintenance .L. Miscellaneous* .*.*.! *.! * .!' .;' H9O Credit balanoe - LSO2 Ra -te 10.250 £14,902 £14,902 HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID. Rate n arrei?s ril 1 Contribution 5^250 £53 ’ 965 £53,965 DRAIN AGE. April . 1 .; Sundry Uti ° nS «T,«48 Debit balance ’371 £27,998 £27,998 SANIT ATION. Arrears 600 Balance, April 1 ~,„ n &? al .: *. *;. * * *.*.:; « buVnins ' ;; • : Sundries .* coV, Credit balance .* .*.* 445 £ 29,705 £29.705 INTE REST. . £ „ Arrears 7,500 Balance r n9 - £ ate ;• •• : 189,573 Interest .. .. * Aii' o oVk Transfers, etc 263.018 Sundry .. 4 ?7*?S? Credit balance .. 3,916 £460,091

£3.,000 for the year, and the Works Committee expects to spend £9OJDOO on the streets on which the lights shine. * * * Planting of street trees ha*s an allowance of £1,500. In connecstion with beautification and planning the sum of £3,000 is provided for preparing the city plan. * * * Remuera branch library is the most expensive. An allowance of £550 is made for it. Grafton costs £ 500, and Point Chevalier takes bottom position with a humble £SO. • * • In 1925 and 1926 the water account contributed £20,000 to the general f p?^nnA La^- year the amount was £ 10,000. This year it will contribute nothing. * • * The annual balance at March 31 last was £B,OOO less than estimated. This FOR HARD WORKERS MARSHALL’S PHOSPHERINE The busy business-man puts a great strain on his nerves. Endurance! that’s what he wants! Marshall’s Fospherine is what he requires to keep his nerves in trim. There is nothing like it for soothing and strengthening the nerve system. Marshall’s Fospherine feeds the nerves with the vital elements so necessary to their power functioning. It supplies what modern foods lack—phosphorus. It is a highly-concentrated and quick-acting tonic. Restores pep and vigour to the overworked body and mind. Get a bottle of Marshall’s Fospherine to-day from your chemist or storekeeper. Ask for the six-sided carton — 100 doses for 2s 6d. If unable to obtain easily, write the proprietors. A. and IN'. Baxter, of Baxter’s Lung Preserver, Christchurch. 2.