“IMPERTINENCE?”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 99, 7 April 1936, Page 5

“IMPERTINENCE?”

Napier Retailers’ Request for Information COUNCIL’S DISCUSSION A request by the Napier Retailers’ Association for certain information regarding electricity supply was considered by Cr. Eric Williams at last evening’s meeting of the Napier Borough Council to amount to impertinence. The request gave rise to a discussion, after which the council agreed to leave the matter of a reply to the association in the hands of the town clerk and the electrical engineer.

The Retailers’ Association’s letter asked that the borough electrical engineer meet a deputation and submit the cost of and returns from the electricity supply under the following headings: Domestic, water-pumping, commercial, shop-lighting, sewerage, Parade and street lighting.

“I don’t think we can disclose these details,” said Cr. Williams, when the matter was being discussed last night. ‘‘lt is impertinence to make such a re-

quest.” Cr. A. C. B. Biggs thought it was not entirely impertinence, for the Retailers’ Association should be entitled to receive the information. Cr. Williams moved that the association be advised that the information could not be supplied. This was seconded by Cr. M. 8.

Spence. Cr. P. F. Higgins; Don’t you think that the reply is rather drastic?

Cr. Williams: I don’t think that we are iu a position to supply the information regarding the costs. The Mayor, Mr C. 0. Morse, said the council was a public body and he thought the consumers were entitled to some information.

After further discussion, the council decided that the matter of framing a suitable reply, explaining certain points raised by the association, should be left in the hands of the town clerk, Mr F. R. Watters, and the borough electrical engineer, Mr D. H. Hastie.