CLASH OVER POSTAGE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31123, 28 July 1966, Page 15

CLASH OVER POSTAGE

Rate Demands And Appeal When the clerk (Mr W. H. Scrimgeour) told the Heathcote County Council that he proposed to send out the rate demands with an appeal for support for a council loan in the same envelope he was told by Cr. L. L. Smith that this was not the council's intention.

It had been expressly agreed that the two documents should not go out together, said Cr. Smith. The council had cut down on its vote for postage, said Mr Scrimgeour. The staff was "flat out” preparing rate demands, which had to be posted by August 1. To send the loan appeal out separately would cost £l5 for postage. and he would need extra staff. “To send both out in one envelope is not in my book of rules,” said the chairman (Mr C. D. Le Comte). “This is a matter of vital Importance. We asked for expedition, and we must get it.” In discussions as to how both rates and appeal could be posted, Mr Scrimgeour said the staff was working at nights now. “Get a commercial firm to do the work,” said Cr. Smith. When it was suggested that councillors could help, Mr Scrimgeour said that progress on the rates had been helped by the absence of councillors. He apologised at the request of the chairman. The council agreed to make money available for posting 1500 appeals separately and to engage temporary staff, if necessary. Councillors volunteered to help with the work.