BOROUGH RATES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 June 1938, Page 7

BOROUGH RATES

INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY FIVE PER CENT SURVEY BY THE MAYOR. FURTHER PERMANENT WORKS OUT OF REVENUE. The rates and estimates for the coming year were approved by a special meeting of the Masterton Borough Council last night. “The sum total of the whole of the rates,” observed the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, “will be an increase of approximately five per cent.” Mr Jordan went on to state that the library rate, which was levied on the unimproved value, had been increased from .16d in the £ to Jd in the £. This, he said, was due to the desire of the committee to replenish the store of books in the library, which had been very heavily depleted during the past three or four months by the removal and destruction of large numbers of old and worn-out books. There was a slight increase in the street lighting rate which was levied on the annual value. The rate was going up from lid to 2Jd. It was proposed to increase the number of mercury vapour 1200 candle-power lights by eight. This would provide additional illumination in the southern end of the town and at the Opaki and Te Ore Ore approaches, besides one lamp at the intersection of Perry and Chapel streets. The hospital rate which was levied on the annual value was slightly higher, having been raised from 4Jd to sd. This was due to increased hospital' board levy this year, which showed a rise of £227. For the first time the Council was levying a special rate to cover interest and sinking fund on the Waipoua River loan of £BOOO. This rate amounted 3-16 d on the unimproved value. Although the Fire Board levy had been increased by nearly £5OO, there was no increase in the general rate of 4gd, which provided for the general upkeep, maintenance and administration of the borough. Other than those mentioned the special rates will be the sariie this year as last year. THE GAS DEPARTMENT. “There is an increase of Id on the gas rate levied last year,” said Mr Jordan. "This was raised from Id to :fd on the unimproved value. The increase has been rendered necessary by the engagement of a special salesman to stimulate the gas department and in order to provide him with the necessary equipment the department must be prepared to purchase new gas material. This has to be paid for in cash by the borough and is sold to the consumer on time payments. It is hoped that this expenditure will not be recurring. It should be pointed out that at the present time about £<2so is Outstanding in instalments on cookers which have been sold. It will probably be necessary also to provide an additional fitter to cope with the increased work produced by the engagement of the new salesman, Mr Wynne. Though he has been here only a few weeks he has already made his presence felt. Objections,” said Mr Jordan, “may be taken to this by some ratepayers, but I should like to remind them that in days gone by, before J took office, the council in its wisdom handed over to the ratepayers in reduction of rates sums amounting to £3500 of accumulated profits of the gas undertaking, although at that time there was not a shilling provided in the way of depreciation or reserve funds. At the present time, due to statutory provision, we have a depreciation and renewal fund of nearly £5OOO. This, as its name indicates, is available only for renewals and replacements and is not available for the purchase of new equipment. In other words, we have no capital sum for buying new cookers and heaters and the money has to be found either out of the profits of the undertaking or from a special rate." PERMANENT WORK The estimates for the year Mr Jordan continued, provided for the spending of a considerable sum of money on new tar sealing work and kerbing of footpaths, the total amount being £1515. He said he would like to remind ratepayers that the tar sealing of the whole of the borough streets had been done out of revenue. The reconditioning of tar sealed streets was an increasing item of expenditure, and this year it would amount to £3875. Amongst the miscellaneous items provision was made for a new truck at a cost of £390. and storm water drainage involved approximately £250. The council had decided to assist the local aero club by making a grant of £lOO towards its funds. "This." added Mr Jordan, "in my opinion is a very wise provision to make in the times in which we live, and I think it is a matter of congratulation that the local aero club has trained a pilot who has now been appointed pilot-instructor of the club —Mr J. V. A. Reid. I don’t know of any similar appointment in New Zealand." BATHS AND REST ROOM No provision had been made for new baths, said Mr Jordan. When the plans were ready it would be necessary to raise a special loan for this work, and in the loan provision would be made for the payment of the first year’s interest and sinking fund out of the loan itself, so that the erection of baths did not affect the rating for this year. As to the proposed ladies' rest rooms, the council had not budgeted specially for this item. The council did not intend building. All that it would be necessary to provide for. it was hoped, would be the cost of the rent and of a caretaker. This could be done without prejudicially affecting the revenue. On the receipts side, said Mr Jordan, it would be found that the council had not discovered any fresh sources of revenue. The amounts shown were fairly consistent. Typical examples of the effect of the increase in rates are (last year's figures

given in parentheses): Lansdowne residence £l5 Is 4d (£l4 8s 8d); Perry Street property £ll7 17s (£lll 10s 7d); Renall Street residence £8 15s 4d (£8 6s 3d); Queen Street business properties (a), £253 16s 5d (£240 4s 7d); (b) £204 16s 2d (£194 6s); bank, £142 19s 5d (£135 15s 6d).