METER DEPOSITS.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 26, 30 March 1928, Page 5

METER DEPOSITS.

Sir, —You will probably have noticed in the "Post" the other evening the following paragraph:—"Most business firms would envy the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Lighting Board its low percentage of losses for bad debts. The secretary applied to the board for permission to "write off" £16/4/9, the amount of bad debts incurred by the board during the last two years. The secretary reported that during the period the board had collected over £100,000." Very nice reading, Sir, and quite good business for the board—only to have to write off £16/4/9 —for two years' trading. But what concerns others and myself more vitally—as a family man with six children—is the imposition of the 10/- meter charge before you can burn the board's gas. I understand the board has collected up to the present time something in the vicinity of three or four thousand pounds— the board can correct me, if my figures are wrong—in half-sovereigns for the use of meters for registering the amount of gas consumed. As a quid pro quo—why should not the householder charge the board rental for storing the meter? I was told that this charge was made as a check on the "fiy-by-night" who forgot to pay his last month's gas-bill. That theory is evidently exploded, now that they have let the cat out of the bag by having to "write off" only £16/4/9 after two years' trading— which speaks volumes for the honesty of our citizens. Some years ago I wrote the board on the same subject, and was informed that the board was

"considering" the matter of refunding those ten-shilling deposits. Like the old game of the "priest of the parish," the board has evidently "lost its considering cap"—in view of . that huge pile of £100,000 for two years' business. This is a matter that the Civic League or Progress League^ should take in hand—and so earn the thanks of the whole community.—l am, etc., "FATHER." Lower Hutt.