CITY CORPORATION ECONOMIES

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17938, 5 December 1923, Page 9

CITY CORPORATION ECONOMIES

TO TBS EDITOR O* "TH2B Sir, —Recently you published a description of a machine invented by a City Council official which will result in a considerable saving in the cost of street sweeping. It has struck me that a further saving could easily be effected by using spent lime; in liquid form to kill the needs on the footpaths and the sides of the streets, Tins is said to remain elfective for seven years. There muat be eight to .ten men employed, all the summer in grubbing up these .veeds, to say nothing of tne. cost of carting the rubbish away. If the Council were really in earnest in studying economy, why do they not order by cable the water meters that are required instead of allowing ratepayers to water their gardens with water-cans, and so obtain water free ? Many are early risers these dry days, iriid some people use the hose at daylight. When I applied for a' watermeter this week it was -explained that it would be eighteen months Before it would be installed, but I could buy them at a certain merchant's for about' £4 each. Surely if the merchants can procure them the Council be able to do so at short notice by caoiing au order to Britain. They would pay splendid interest, on the outlay. One would imagine that the City Corporation is interested in the stocks ot water-meters held by merchants in the city. Could it not be arranged to charge those who wish to use a hose a fixed sum monthly until the meters applifed for have been installed? It would be all clear profit to the city, for we must water during these dry days or our gardens would soon be, dried up. The water is there, and they might just as well make some re,venue out of it instead of letting it be used free of charge.—Yours etc., AQUA.