1st Edition
Local Authority Accounting Methods Problems and Solutions, 1909-1934
The book contains a collection of papers dealing with a range of controversial accounting issues which exercised the minds of local authority officials during the period 1909-1934 and the "solutions" embodied in the Accounts (Boroughs and Metropolitan Boroughs) Regulations 1930. The contributors to the debate were mainly local government officials and the items reproduced cover a wide range of matters such as the content of the abstract accounts; the need for standardization and an illuminating comparison of the nature and contents of municipal accounts with those of limited companies. A number of issues which received close attention from the literature during the early part of the present century were related to the growth of municipal trading undertakings (water, gas, tramways and electricity). The pricing of these services was a matter of considerable debate; questions included whether these services should be priced to generate a profit, break-even or receive a subsidy from the rates. The depreciation question and the related issues of loan periods and the need for a sinking fund receive some attention as do the growing concern of municipal debt.
Introduction. 1. Municipal Finance, with Special Reference to the Provision and Application of Sinking and Depreciation Funds Alex Murray 2. Tramway Finances and Policy Jas H. Rodgers 3. Income Tax as Affecting Local Authorities F. J. Alban 4. The Limitation and Application of Profits from Municipal Undertakings Bailie Walter Nelson 5. Some Features of Local Authorities’ Finance F. Ogden Whiteley 6. Municipal Debt Arthur Collins 7. The Appointment of the Central Establishment Expenses of Local Authorities C. H. Patterson 8. Tramway Finances Leading Article The Accountant 9. City of Coventry Tramways Department, Report of General Manager and Professional Auditor as to making Provision in the Accounts for Renewals and other Question of Financial Policy The Accountant 10. Income Tax. Offical Allowances in Respect of Depreciation of Machinery and Plant The Accountant 11. Application of Electricity Revenue The Accountant 12. The Profits of Municipal Trading Departments The Accountant 13. Observations on the Transfer of Undertakings to Public Authorities R. Kerr 14. The Progress of Ideas in Municipal Accoutancy J. H. McCall 15. The Published Accounts of a Municipality Sydney Larkin 16. Income Tax in Relation to the Accounts of Local Authorities G. R. Butterworth 17. Electricity Accounts of Local Authorities and Costs in Connection with the Same W. A. Henderson 18. The Redemption of Loans (including its relation to Depreciation Fund) Arthur Collins 19. Tramway Accounts and Costs E. J. Johnson 20 Abstracts of Accounts A. Wetherall 21. A ‘Real’ Consolidated Loans Fund R. A Wetherall 22. Costing and Allocation of Central Establishment Charges W. C. Coxall 23. A Comparison of Commercial Accounts with Municipal Accounts Norman E. Lamb 24. Electricity Accounts and Costing H. Andrews 25. The Accounts of Municipal Undertakings Arthur Collins 26. Standardisation of Abstracts of Accounts James Boucher 27. Cost Accounts as Applied to Municipalities John Allcock 28. Memorandum to Accompany the Accounts (Boroughs and Metropolitan Boroughs) Regulations 1930 Knight’s Local Government and Magisterial Reports 29. Borough Accounts Lord MacMillan 30. Costing Lord Macmillan 31. Accounts of Local Authorities Lord MacMillan.
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