79% Favour Refuse Bags

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32251, 20 March 1970, Page 16

79% Favour Refuse Bags

Of those who answered a Waimairi County Council questionnaire on the paper bag refuse collection system, 79.5 per cent said the council should introduce the system, the county engineer (Mr A. J. W. Lamb) reported to the council last evening.

Mr Lamb said 279 households were issued with the questionnaire and 180 ques tionnaires were collected.

Asked if tiiey would consider it reasonable for rates to be increased by an average of 82.40 a year to meet the costs of the scheme, 64 per cent replied “yes” and 30.4 per cent “no.” Mr Lamb reported.

Asked if they would agree to pay an extra $1.75 for the bag holders, which could be acquired in bulk by the council, 65.6 per cent replied “yes” and 21.6 per cent "no.”

Those who expressed their complete opposition • to .he scheme represented 2.5 per cent of the total returns, Mr Lamb said. Although a smaller proportion of householders was in favour of paper bags than had been in a previous survey, there appeared to be a substantial number who considered the change worth while, he said. Objection.—The council decided to lodge a formal objec-

tion to an application made to the North Canterbury Catchment Board by Millers, Ltd, to pump 240,000 gallons of water a day for cooling at a factory being built in Wairakei Road, and to return the water to its source at the same rate.

Building Permits.—During February 107 building permits worth 81,178,752 were issued, the council was told. In February last year 130 permits worth $594,719 were issued The value this February was pushed up by a permit issued to Millers, Ltd, for a $600,000 factory at 556 Wairakei Road. The total floor area of the factory was quoted as 71,000 sq. ft. The average cost of dwellings this February was $7.25 a sq. ft, compared with $6.74 a sq, ft in February. 1969 Library Figures.—The Fendalton library had 9219 bor- ' rowers this February com ! pared with 7013 in February last year, the librarian (Mrs T McArtney) reported. The Redwood Library had 2959 borrowers compared with 1776.

Rates Paid.—By February 28 rates collected for the year amounted to $1,495,813, or 92.79 per cent of the total levy, the council was told. At the same time last year the percentage collected was 95.4.

Halls Rates.—A letter would be sent to the university halls of residence authorities advising that the council felt the halls were rateable and a rate demand

would be forwarded for the 1970-1971 year, it was decided.