SANITARY RATING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22572, 27 February 1948, Page 3

SANITARY RATING

OBJECTIONS MADE SERVICE NOT GIVEN COUNCIL REBATE SCHEME Four ratepayers in Cook County areas contiguous to Gisborne wrote to yesterday’s meeting of the Cook County Council, protesting against the sanitary rate on the -grounds that, having installed septic tanks, they received no benefit from the county’s service. It was pointed out by the chairman, Mr E. H. Baker, that legislative authority was being sought to restrict the charge to those properties which received the service. and that there seemed some prospect of an amendment to the Counties’ Act being introduced to give effect to the proposal.

In the meantime, the council could only administer the Act ns it stood, and require all property-owners within the sanitary district to pay the rate. The countv clerk. Mr R. K. Gardner, later submitted a report on the county sanitary service, pointing out that, some difficulties had arisen after the 'institution of area contracts for night soil collection. These difficulties had been increased by the objections of some residents in the sanitary districts _to accepting the service, and opposition from the owners of septic tanks had been particularly heavy. In view of delays which had occurred in instituting the sanitary service in various areas, Mr Gardner submitted a recommendation that rebates be made on the rates collected in these areas for the current year, to cover that portion of thd year i n which services had not been available. The council supported the clerk's recommendations, and adopted the schedule of rebates submitted.