BOROUGH FINANCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3165, 16 April 1909, Page 5

BOROUGH FINANCE.

To the Editor. Sir,—ln reply to the Mayor's letter, appearing in your paper of April 13th, I am rather inclined to think that the pitiful ignorance of Borough finance referred to by Mr Hollings will be found to be shown by that gentleman, and lam qiite prepared to meet him on the public platform prove who has the better knowledge of these finances. I have no intention of following the Mayor's lead and indulging in personal abuse, but I must again emphasise the point —•which is still being evaded—that no financial statement was submitted to the Works Committee by the Mayor, as reported in the Press. Mr Hollings' statement as to the £763 worth of accounts, is decidedly refreshing, and corroborates my statement that he is somewhat at sea on the Borough finances. The bulk of these accounts were not chargeable to loan account, only some £2O0 — vide his apologist's (Cr Yarr) letter on the subject, and as a set off against this, the Mayor tells us in the statement above referred to that liabilities to the extent of £2OO were outstanding. A similar pitiful ignore ance is shown by the Mayor's statement as to the corresponding demand upon the Council's revenue for interest and sinking fund on the £25,000 loan account, etc. Borough ratepayers are not likelyjto be ignorant of the fact that they paid that interest and sinking fund by a special rate. As to the Mayor's statement that I supported all the increases in the rates, I would draw his attention to the Council's minute book. There he will see that it was or. my motion that the estimates for the year were reduced by £I,OOO, and the only member of the Council who voted against the motion was His Worship the Mayor. In conclusion, I repeat to the Mayor the offer I made to CrYarr.—l am, etc., JOHN HUNTER.