The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY,MAY 13, 1886. THE BOROUGH BALANCE SHEET.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2294, 13 May 1886, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY,MAY 13, 1886. THE BOROUGH BALANCE SHEET.

Thk balance sheet of the Masterton Borough published in our last issue, if compared with its predecessors seyen years ago, is somewhat disappointing, as.it does not realise our idea of the growth and development of; the ;town 'during.the interval. For example; the ratps collected last year'lV we re only J5173 more than the sum I collected. in. the statement of 1879. The explanation, of this slow increase was given by the Mayor when he pointed out that Borough valuations had been reduced. In 1879, it will be.reroembered, rents in Masterton came down almost with a ruu, and of course valuations'- had to. follow.them. It would" be .easy to point out m tins town properties which to-day do not realize half the rentals, which they fetched seven- years, ago, and the basis of the present valuation is therefore, a safer and sounder one than, the more speculative estimate in force' in 1879, Still further contrasting the. two periods it is noticeable that the license fees are much the same in. both but the canine revenue-has fallen off to such an extent; that::it; is evident that this source of income is going -to the dogs, . Subsidies,-■ of coiirseifiliow..» considerable reduction and it is gratifying to notice that the item .salaries' follow the example' of the subsidies, On labor, double the sum formerly devoted has been spent, but.as a setoff the sum expended oh contract work has been reduced, On the section of the sheet devoted to the Library we find that out of a revenue of £232 last year, Ipsa than &12 was devoted to the purchase of new books. We cannot compliment the late committee on their enterprise in this direction, and believe that the Council will do much better than this during the ourrent year, . With the introduction of gas into Masterton the finances of the Borough are necessarily assuming larger proportions; and we are glad to notice that there exists now not only a tendency to undertake progressive works, but also, to secure as far as compatible with efficiency an economical administration. The Borough Council is becoming year by year.more a working body than a debating society, and future balance sheets are likely to record a more rapid development than the past ones reveal,

amongst us, who require very careful watching, and there are others who, without lining credited with criminal intentions, are a nuisance to the public by appearing at all hours of the- day and night in a state of intoxication. Children cannot co bnokwai'da and forwards to school 'without being accosted and frightened by men: under the influence of liquor. We are well'' aware that the police force of the town is making strenuous exertions to maintain order within tho district, but.it is admittedly undermanned, and if it is not soon strenghened, it will be unequal I to the repressive measures .which are now obviously necessary. l

At the late meeting of the' County Council, it was proposed to. shelve the local government finance Bcheme, and to take up the Codlin Moth question. It appears that while the Government invite an opinion from the Council on that liyply subject '.'the Godlin Moth" they don't care much tor tho Comity wisdom on local goYornmont finance. The latter question is, after all a policy question, and until leaders in-'parliament'tako it up in earnest, tlioro i 3 but little prospect of it coming to. an issue. The somewhat hopeless character of the - agitation .initiated by the North,Wairarapa County is shown by the fact thafout of .360 cir •cularß.aenfc to local bodies, .:only sixteen responses at all favorable to the C'mnty scheme were received.' No wonder, that our County Councillors turned for consolation to that interesting insect'the Codlin Moth. •