HARD TO UNDERSTAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 903, 21 February 1930, Page 13

HARD TO UNDERSTAND

FINANCE PUZZLE FOR COUNCIL MUNICIPAL REMIT DEFEATED From. Our Own Correspondent TAUMARUNUI, Thursday. The remit was hard to understand, and was too large. It was really a Government measure and as the council had no mandate from the ratepayers in regard to it, he could not support it. This was the attitude adopted by the Mayor of Taumarunui, Mr. C. A. Boles, in regard to a motion brought forward as a suggested remit for the Municipal Conference. The motion, which was introduced by Cr. W. Harvey, contained about 250 words, and dealt with the question of municipal finance. Its main contention seemed to be that money spent by the community through its controlling body gave direct return in increased values of the properties, and the value of this increase should belong to the community as a whole and not to the fortunate individuals who were in a position to lend the money, or who owned large areas of land. Crs. Brew, Ward and Dryland supported the motion. Cr. Davis said it seemed to hime like something from the works of Froude. Cr. Blshara contended it aimed at “nationalisation” and was not the council’s “joke.” On being put, the motion was lost on the casting vote of the Mayor. Cr. Ward expressed sorrow at the defeat of the remit, as if it had gone to the conference it would give the delegates "something to think about.” The council resolved to support the proposal for financing hospitals from the Consolidated Fund, and for the direct representation of boroughs on hospital boards.