NO RETRACTION

Evening Star, Issue 22681, 22 June 1937, Page 6

NO RETRACTION

POLITICAL MOTIVE IMPUTED CHARGES FOR WATER TAPS Attempts by Cr A. H. Allen to ininduce Cr M. Silverstone to retract a statement that ah amendment proposed a fortnight ago to make the charge of 10s applicable to hoses not to taps was a political move were unsuccessful at last night’s meeting of the City Council. Cr A. H. Allen said that when he proposed at the last meeting that the proposed charge be for one hose tap only, the chairman of the Finance Committee charged him with making a political move with the motive of upsetting the estimates for the year. An assurance was given that that was not his purpose, and he was not going to be placed offside when he was onside. His amendment actually proposed a charge in the estimates of 10s per annum for hoses—not per hose. He read the clause in the estimates as proof that he was not doing anything unfair or unkind.- The finance chairman’s imputation was not kind. The Mayor: He is kind-hearted, although he does not always show it. Cr Allen: I know he is. Cr W, A. Scott said the council’s decision to charge 10s for each tap was one of the most stupid over reached. The charge should be for each hose. Cr Silverstone replied that to charge for a hose would be absurd. If the amendment were adopted, storekeepers would bo charged 10s per annum for keeping hoses for sale. The by-law was drafted on the right lines. If a ratepayer did not want a tap for hosing, he could disconnect it. Cr Scott: And that is what he will do. Cr Allen said Cr Silverstone was talking all round the subject -without answering his complaint that he was wrongly charged with political motives. The Mayor: Yon made it perfectly clear, but he is not acknowledging it. (Laughter.)