The Sun WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1928 SPENDING PUBLIC MONEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 385, 20 June 1928, Page 8

The Sun WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1928 SPENDING PUBLIC MONEY

D RET HAIiTE might have said of Auckland local government that “for ways that are dark and tricks that are vain public finance is peculiar.” This view of the City Council’s business was encouraged by the foolish decision of the council last evening to discuss this year’s estimates in committee, so that only councillors would know all the, reasons for an increase in the rates, the soaring of interest charges on loans, the raid on sinking funds, many apparent discrepancies and a tantalising mystery or two. No one, except perhaps a few persons with the imagination of pirates, really believes that there is anything sinister in the council’s secrecy about community affairs or that there is anything morally wrong and improper about the city’s finance. Hut suspicion is encouraged by the strange and almost furtive manner in which the expensive policy of the council is carried out, to say nothing at all concerning its bad habit of diverting money from one fund to another whenever penury pinches the administration. For example, the Town Clerk gave a clear explanation of the taking (a softer word than filching) of £15,875 from the accumulated sinking funds on an old loan for electric power plant. It was in no sense an act of looting. Under the Electric Power Board Act the council was set free of its obligation to make payments into the special sinking fund, and therefore could use the money for any purpose it desired. Quite so, but why wasn’t that information stated frankly in the budget? It may be noted, however, that even Mr. Brigham, although defending the new purpose for which the cash was taken, personally would have preferred to use it for strengthening the sinking funds. Prudent, completely efficient administrators would have agreed with the Town Clerk in ordinary circumstances, but had such a wise policy been adopted, it would have been necessary to increase the rates on a much higher, scale—-an unpopular expedient in this pre-election year. Then there is the mystery about the enormous increase this financial year in the estimate of expenditure on debt interest. This item has taken a high jump, representing a hurdle of £62,000. It is to he imagined that the great increase is attributable to the necessity of paying a full year’s interest on the ma jor portion of the council’s indebtedness, plus the payment of interest on the debts of the former Avondale Borough Council and Tamaki Road Board, whose territories and obligations recently merged into those of the city. Again, it may he asked why this essential explanatory information was not given in the budget as an exercise of efficient, straightforward business. It often has been the wail of councillors that “if only the Press and the public knew everything there would he less harsh criticism and more praise.” Whose fault is it that the council is cuffed and kicked, figuratively speaking, instead of being commended and admired with grateful enthusiasm? And, finally, there is still the need of a plain statement about the high cost of street maintenance. The council was given authority to borrow £710,000 and to spend it in a hurry in order to help relieve unemployment on the declared assurance that first-class roadways would reduce maintenance costs. This also has gone awry. Why? FROM EAST TO WEST IJLYING the Atlantic, once regarded as an impossible dream, *• has now moved a stage nearer being an “everyday occurrence.” On six occasions aircraft have triumphed over the hazards of this formidable flight, but only once has the direct crossing been made successfully from East to West—when, in April, Herr Koehl, Baron von Huenefeld and Major Fitzmaurice flew from Ireland to Greenly Island, Labrador. Following on the wonderful crossing of the Pacific by Kingsford Smith and his companions recently—a superlative flight—this latest Atlantic air voyage, from Newfoundland to Wales would not have excited the interest that attended former successful enterprises but for the fact that a woman took part in it. Miss Amelia Earhart, a Boston society girl, who accompanied Pilot Stultz and Navigator Gordon in the monoplane “Friendship,” has gained the distinction of being the first of her sex t« fly the Atlantic, and declared herself “the proudest woman in tlie world.” As the monoplane’s supply of petrol had almost gone when the coast of Wales was sighted, she may also consider herself the most fortunate. In the future, doubtless, men and women in large numbers will cross oceans in vast airships with as little risk as, and very much more speed than is now incurred in journeying to-day in one of the floating sea-palaces that are regarded as the last word in sea transport. The time is not yet, however, and those who venture on extended flights by air venture their lives. Still, progress in aviation is rapid, and each succeeding success brings man nearer to mastery of the air. Day after day we read of heroic endeavours and advances made abroad, and day by day there is forced upon us more and more a realisation of the little we have done in New Zealand in regard to flight—while, in the words of Mr. Ernest Shatz, who returned yesterday to Auckland, “Australia is flying mad.” With so many wonderful accomplishments in flying to the credit of her sons—deeds which have thrilled the whole world—Australia may be excused her '“madness”. A little of this condition would do the Dominion good.