"DOG EATING DOG"

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1932, Page 12

"DOG EATING DOG"

STREET LIGHTING COSTS

"It's a waste of time for local bodies to send deputations here, because we are not going to give them somethings for nothing," said Mr. S. Blackley, chairman of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board, at its meeting yesterday, referring to the desire of local bodies that street-lighting charges should be reduced.'

Some local authorities, he remarked, were endeavouring to arrange a meeting to discuss the question of reducing streetlighting costs. The Petbne arid the Lower Hutt Borough Councils were as fully conversant with the board's position as anybody was. The capital expenditure at the present time on street lighting was from £27,000 to £30,000. The cost to the board last year was £2799 14s 2d, and it'had received in revenue £5049 12s.' Since then the board had given a 5 per cent, reduction in the charges, which meant that it had reduced • the charge to actual ' cost price.

<"The local bodies are aware of the position," said Mr. Blaekley, "and if they are looking for economies, the right place to look is within. It is no true economy to try to get another local body to reduce its prices below cost. That is dog eating dog, and I for one will not agree to run any section of this board's business on unbusinesslike lines."

A recommendation of the engineer-gen-eral manager (Mr. E. F. Hollands), that the local authorities be advised o£ the board's conditions of supply of street lighting, there being at present in existence no record of any such conditions, was adopted. The new conditions of supply, which-, are materially the same as those at present in operation, will commence from .Ist July. Mr. A. J. Hobbs voted against .the recommendation, as he thought it unnecessary and likely to lead to friction': " ; "■■ ".■ ' - ■■"- -1 - :'. ■-