TRADING DEPARTMENTS AND A TOWN HALL.

Evening Star, Issue 19330, 17 August 1926, Page 3

TRADING DEPARTMENTS AND A TOWN HALL.

10 THE EDITOR. Sir, —Consequent on iny absence from town last week-end 1 did not see a letter in your columns appearing in Friday night’s issue over too signature or Mr Malcolm Stevenson until the present time. In reply, f beg to state that I think Mr Stevenson has not fully understood my attitude. The Gas Committee’s report, which 1 moved, makes it clear that in the committee’s opinion it is not right for the large users of gas to pay for those who have had services installed and do not make use of them, and thus leave the department to hoar the loss of having meters read and also the general depreciation of material used in the reticulation, together with other charges, and to get over this position the council asks a minimum revenue of £1 per annum on gas boilers. The E.P. and L. department takes up the same attitude, and asks a minimum of 10s per annum on heaters, etc. This, I think, clearly shows the intentions of the Gas Committee’s report moved by me_ at the last council meeting. The £1 is not a charge over and above the amount or gas used in any one household, one meter only being used. AA hat we ask is that we ho assured of at least an income from each meter of 20s per year. IF a consumer uses only 10s worth of gas he pays 2fls, and if ho uses 20s worth of gas wo are satisfied. Mr Stevenson asks (put in a short sentence) : “ Do I think that the profits of the trading concerns should he used for building a town hall?” In the first place those who uso gas and electricity, and also trams and water, got these commodities at as low a rate as, and in many cases lower than, any town in Australia or New Zealand, and if hv good management we can show a profit greater than other municipalities, with a, further margin to present the city with a £IOO,OOO town hall, surely the ratepayers should commend the councillors. This henutiful town hiill is not wholly taken from the ratepayers’ purse, hut is assisted by ciciy visitor to our fair city who uses our cheap and efficient trading conccins, and an up-to-date town hall will make them conic to our town more frequently, and thus assist the council in other useful undertakings. That we consider the ratepayer in the disposal of these profits is surely evident from the fact that last year wc returned to them nearly .£25,000 jn relief of rates. Mr slm-'d have no difficulty in calculating just what share he got ol that sum. It represents fid in the £ of rateable value. I think- Mr Stevenson can rest assured that the interests of the ratepayers and the citizens of Dunedin arc over considered bv the members of the City Council. —I am, He., W. A. Scott, Chairman of Gas Committee. August 17.