THE MAYORALTY.

Evening Star, Issue 26091, 3 May 1947, Page 8

THE MAYORALTY.

TO HIE EDITOR, Sir,—Air B. E. Kite accuses me of using the bludgeon on Air Cameron, and says I question his fitness for a further term of office. I certainly object to him, or any of those councillors who support him, when they inake no attempt to rectify the gross injustice that takes place in the application of our rating system, and the system of charging for the services given by our trading concerns. I shelter behind no nom de plume, neither do I use the bludgeon ort my fellow man. 1 know from long experience that there are men in our city who, perhaps through ignorance, prevent the workers from enjoying the four freedoms that make life worth living. Here are a few facts and a few examples of how the method of charging used by .the electricity department works out with the domestic users of electricity. In the examples. I use the figure £d a unit instead of .6078 d, which is the department’s figure, and which covers all expenses required by the department, and allows a profit of £54,055 for the year ending 1945:—(a) 2 rooms: 9 units at 4-id, .Bs 4id; cost to department at fd per unit, 63d; profit op sale, 2s 9£d. (b) 3 rooms: >l2 units at 43d, 4s 6d; 60 units at id, 2s 6d, total, 7s; cost to department at 3d, 4s 6d; profit, 2s ‘6d. (c) 4 rooms: 14 units at, 4id, 5s 3d; 114 at id, 4s 9d; total, 10s; cost to department at |d, 8s; profit, 2s. (d) 5 rooms with electric cooker: 15 units at 4id, 5s 7d; 385 units at id, 16s Id; total, £1 Is 8d; cost to department at 3d, £1 ss; loss on sale, 3s 4d. (e) 5 rooms, cooker, heater,_ etc.: 15 units, at 4id, 5s 7d; 390 units at id, 16s 3d; 560 units at id; 11s 8d; total, £1 13s 6d; cost to department at 3d> £3 0s 33d; loss on sale, £1 6s 9|d.

From the above examples it will be seen that the, method used results in the burden being placed on small householders. The larger residences in our city, with the greatest amount of electrical appliances, get their services, in most cases, under the cost of production and distribution. Personally, I consider this to be immoral and economically unsound. The principal of selling _under cost to olie section, and exploiting other sections, whether 911 the domestic side or on the industrial side, is wrong. It was one of the causes of the First and Second World Wars, and is one of the main causes of our city going back. I hope, sir, yoii can give space for this letter, and later, with your permission, I will deal with other aspects of our city’s administration. Alaybe, Ali> Cameron,' or some of his. fellow councillors, could take advantage of your columns and comment on this letter.—l am, etc., C. M. Moss. May 1. [Abridged, Ed., E.S.J