BOROUGH FINANCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3198, 26 May 1909, Page 5

BOROUGH FINANCE.

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FOR CURRENT YEAR. The Town Clerk at the meeting of the Borough Council last evening submitted the estimate of the Borough requirements ou the general rate account for the period down to the 31st March, 1910, as dealt with by the Works Committee, for the confirmation of the Council. The estimates were as follow : Rents, £93; Refunds, £l6; Audit fee, £23; Interest on overdraft,£3oo; Fire Prevention, £500; Hospital and Charitable Aid, under precept, £435; Leeal, £94; Offices, £297; Salaries of officers and others, £415; Public health, £170; Parks, £200; Election, £64; Pound, £150; Dogs, £4O; Technical School, £25; Scavenging' £325; Sanitation, £525; Street lighting, £450; Street maintenance, £1,618; Stables, £326; Dixon Street "widening, £128; Dixon Street baths, £108; Section 159, £6o. estimated requirement, £6,402. Estimated Keceipty, to be deducted, areas follow:—Rate subsidy, maximum, £350; Arrears of rates, £200; Rents, £134; Fees, including pound, £735. Total estimated receipt?, £1,419. Total amount to be raised by General Rate, £4,983. In referring to the estimates, Cr ' Ewington said there were several items on the estimates which he objected to. For instance, street maintenance could be reduced by £4OO, salaries of officers £125, stable expenses £SO. He moved an amendment that the estimate of £2OO for the Park be increased to £3OO. Cr Elliott, in seconding the motion, said he thought so much of the scheme that he was prepared to upport it even if it became necessary to increase the rate by |d in the pound. The Mayor opposed the amendment Cr Rigg asked if the Town Clerk could do with less assistance in the office. The Town Clerk: No! I On being suggested that £IOO should be taken off the salaries of officers, Cr Elliott refused to second the amendment., It was then seconded by Cr Hoar, and on being put to the meeting was lost. Cr Ewington made a further attempt to move another amendment 1 on the same subject, but was ruled ' out of order by the Mayor. The estimates were then adopted I by the meeting.