MILLION FOR CITY WORKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 677, 31 May 1929, Page 6

MILLION FOR CITY WORKS

Year's Financial Budget

ALL ROUND SHORTAGE OF FUNDS Increase in Rates Only Solution *PEE City Estimates for the current financial year, totalling 1 over £1,000,000, were considered by the Auckland City Council last evening. No increase is made in the aggregate rate, but an adjustment in the individual accounts raises the general rate and lowers the library, hospital and sanitation rates. The budget was criticised by councillors, both for the lack of information supplied, and for the unsatisfactory state of the city treasury. Committee chairmen replied that an increase in rates alone would meet the demand for . greater expenditure.

It was pointed out that the estimates as outlined would involve striking the following rates, last year’s figures being quoted in parentheses: General, Is 7d (Is 5Jd); library, Jd (Id); hospital and charitable aid, 4Jd (sd); drainage, 2Jd (2j£d); sanitation, 2Jd; (3d); special, Is 6Jd (Is 6|d). This shows the only increase to be in the general rate, which is ljd in the £ greater. The library, hospital and sanitation rates have each been reduced by Id in the £. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS A summary of the receipts and expenditure in the various accounts, together with the estimates for last year and the amounts actually handled, is as follow’s:

Arrears of rates expected to be received during the ensuing year include £IB,OOO in general rates (as against £12,395 last year), £15,500 in special (interest) rates (as against £6,723), and £4,500 iq hospital rates(as against £1,751). In the water account separate rates and charges are made, £120,500 having been estimated last year, £116,080 being spent and £145,200 budgeted for this year. One reason for the increase is that interest charges will be raised from £61,932 last year to £71,932 this year, and sinking fund charges from £9,928 to £10,500. In addition to permanent debt charges, £3,020 was paid last year as interest on the debit balance in the account, and the estimate this year is £4,000. Maintenance charges are estimated at £44,000, against £40,374. Last year capital expenditure under various heads was £27,722; this year, £15,500 is provided.

STREETS FINANCE The sum of £IOO,OOO is allocated for streets, .£90,322 having been spent last year. Iu reporting upon the allocation for streets the late'city engineer, Mr. W. E. Bush, said the increase in street maintenance had been influenced by the following factors: — (1) The increased mileage of streets which has risen from 54 miles in 1907 to IS3 miles last year, and which totals 275 miles this year. (2) The tremendous increase in the number of vehicles and their greater weights and speeds. (3) The increase in the price of labour, materials and cartage, all of which have doubled since 1907. (4) The much higher standard of maintenance called for. Mr. Bush added that in regard to the disappointment expressed that maintenance costs will not be greatly reduced, the maintenance costs are being actually reduced, although if the annual charges due to the costs of paving are added to such costs, it would be found that the annual expenditure is probably more than it was before the paving was carried out. This, he said, was due to the fact that paving was only carried out where traffic was of so intense a character that its substitution for the previous macadam surface became a necessity on account of the impossibility of maintaining the macadam in a satisfactory condition. A report from a committee of the whole council assessed £40,000 as the minimum sum required for maintaining present tar surfaces, and did not allow for new work which was becoming increasingly urgent, as the council had 100 miles of unsealed macadam roads to maintain. GENERAL PROVISIONS Among the special works allocations in the parks estimates are included £SOO for improvements to the Waikumete Cemetery, £7OO for dressing sheds at - Point Chevalier beach, and £1,600 for a fernery at the Domain. Titirangi Park will take £496, seating accommodation at Mission Bay, St. Heliers and Kohimarama, £370. Baths maintenance is to have £7.500, the zoo £IO,OOO. The sum of £SOO is still on the books for Eden Hill tennis courts

and playground, and £l7O for reerecting the McLechlan monument in Cornwallis Park; £525 for Myers Park repairs. The kauri bush , reserve road from Swanson and firebreaks there will absorb £915, and conveniences at Blockhouse Bay are to take £390. The museum has an allocation of £2,512, the art gallery and Old Colonists' Museum, £2,030; and relief works, £1,407 (£2,1-2 was-spent last year). ESTIMATES DISCUSSED Discussing the estimates, Cr. T. Bloodworth said it had not been found possible to give effect to the suggestion of the works committee chairman that the streets allocation was insufficient for the work. He asked for a return of the rates collected from the new areas added to the city, together with the amount of money spent in those areas. This, he understood, was not available yet—-a circumstance fraught with much misfortune, particularly for new councillors. Practically every penny of the council’s income was allocated in all departments. In fact some things had been discarded, and unless they were reinstated that evening, they would be off the estimates definitely. The council did not have any money available for relief -work, though • the need for work of this nature was acute. . It was satisfactory to observe that there was no increase in the aggregate rate, though an adjustment had been effected to balance the aggregate., He regretted that the old custom of encompassing explanatory matter with the estimates had been disposed of. < Cr. E. J. Phelan, too, objected to the system of circulating the estimates. “I defy anyone under present conditions to define the city’s position by a perusal of the estimates in the time we are giyen,” he protested. ‘“RUTHLESSLY CUT” The committee should be advised why the estimates were ruthlessly cut down in certain directions. “The Government has promised us £25,000 if we can put up a similar sum,” he went on. “I think that offer is such that we should, if necessary raise a special rate to meet this condition. Yet we have no mention of this in the statement of the city’s position.” Cr. Phelan also mentioned the broadcasting of band music. “If we had to give the band free to the broadcasting people,” he said, “we would only be doing our duty to the sick people in the hospital and others who are anxious to hear the music.” Cr. M. J. Coyle: Are you iu with the Broadcasting Company? Cr. Phelan: I am trying to do my duty by the people who want to hear the hand. In reply to a question the treasurer said it was estimated that £29,000 would be gained from increased valua- ; tions of the new city districts. EXTRA REVENUE Cr. W. H. Murray referred to the valuations in the districts rfecently brought into the city, and said the council should, with an extra £29,000 on its credit, be able to widen its expenditure in certain directions. Moreover, the hospital rate, which hitherto had provided the biggest burden, had been reduced. Streets, as well as property, had dropped back, purely because of a shortage of money. Cr. Ellen Melville pointed out that it was of no use in criticising the estimates unless criticising councillors were prepared to move toward increasing the rates or securing the money in some other way. In three years the council had spent £780,000 on street works, but Cr. Melville reminded the council that £2 work could not be executed with the expenditure of £l. “Unless we are prepared to increase the rates I cannot see how we are going to meet the demaud for increased expenditure,” she added. Cr. J. B. Paterson replied to Cr. Phelan on the question of broadcasting band music, and reminded him that the council had asked £750 in the first place and £SOO in the second place. The <;ouncil should decide whether or not they should give' the band broadcasting rights free.

SHOULD RATES GO UP? Cr. A. J. Entrican said an increase in the rates was the only way to meet the shortage of money. “Is anyone prepared to move that we increase the rates by 3d in the £ to 'secure an extra £30,000?” Cr. F. N. Bartram: Councillors only want to get reasonable information. Cr. Entrican said the rates should be struck earlier than at present on account of the existing delay in collection. At present every department asked for amounts, and invariably cut down down. Even then they spent more than their allocations. Cr. Phelan: Why? You cut down the parks alone by £20,000. Cr. Entrican added that he regretted that this council did not possess the profitable trading departments which were operated by several Southern local authorities. “We have given away everything from which we could have made a profit,” he said. Cr. H. B. Burton suggested that so far as the new city areas—Avondale and Tamaki —were concerned, the council would he repaid if it raised a loan to have permanent public works carried out at the , outset. Cr. J. Donald mentioned the West , End tennis courts, and asked for consideration. The Mayor said it was an expensive [job, and the Parks Committee was .now considering tile offer of the tennis club. The estimates were adopted.

REVENUE Estimate Actual. Estimate. 1928-2J1 1928-29 1929-30 General .. £229,714 £287,394 £337,345 Water . . 120,500 116,080 145,200 Dibrary 14,770 14,148 9,875 Hospital 52,840 50,701 Drainage . • 26,457 25,466 28,705 Sanitation 29,705 27,125 Interest 460,091 457,635 510,838 Totals .. £941,S07 £916,618 £1,039,611 EXPEN DIT URE Estimate Ac tual. Estimate. 1928-29 192S-29 General . £296,738 £294,964 £321,202 Water .. 133,160 145,463 145,932 Dibrary 13,100 12,644 Hospital 52,650 53,793 52,224 Drainage 27,998 27,961 Sanitation .. 29,000 26,484 Interest 452,150 454,382 50S.043 Totals . £942,596 £953,760 £1,022,810 REVENUE FROM RATES The estimated revenue from rates. together with the amount estimated for last year and the sum actually collected, are: — Estimate Collected. 1928-29 1928-29 1929-30 General . £179,964 £170,411 £202.965 Dibrary 10,280 9,790 Hospital 51,415 48,950 48,070 Drainage 25,707 24,475 Sanitation 28,005 25,058 Interest 189,573 181,252 197,625 £484,944 £459*936 £504,365 Arrears 24,075 23,134 42,750 Totals .. £509,019 £ 4S3.070 £547,115