E.P.S. EXPENSE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 221, 18 September 1942, Page 4

E.P.S. EXPENSE

CONCERN EXPRESSED COUNTY COUNCIL VIEWS Concern at the cost of E.P.S. operations was expressed at a meeting of the Waitemata County Council this morning. A report received from the Auckland Suburban Local Bodies' Association. .said that from October. 1939 to December 31. 1011. 22 ]<-> C al bodies and eight ad hoc bodies had provided £9828 for mainly preparatory work and £22.583 for the purchase of firefishting equipment. In February of ' the present year a further call of £20.000 had been made or. the contributing bodies. The question now at issue was whether it was now possible to secure a reduction in the amount of levy. The balance sought from the contributory lni_al bodies this vear was £95.924. and the council's assessment was £2999. The chairman. Mr. Wood, said ;hev had made application to secede from the metropolitan area, but it had been turned down by the Minister. Mr. A. Bishop said the district warden was compelled to mat- ? necessary arrangements for the safety of the county, but the question of payment was another matter. Financial Position Mr. H. Dye said the financial position had to stand as before, and they would have to go whole-heartedly into it or break away. Mr. R. Glasgow said the point was that they were not prepared to pay the money demanded, and they had no right to give away the ratepayers 7 money. County people were receiving; no benefit from the work at Albert Park, or alterations to build, ings in Auckland. Captain D. S. McCathie. M.C., said thev already had self-contained organisation in the county to deal with emergency, and should pay only for the equipment they required. It was decided that a committor consisting of the chairman and Messsr. Bishop and Phillips, should be set up to approach the central committee, or the Minister, andmaks an offer of £1500 for the year, without prejudice.