BOROUGH COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1939, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25. SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Hokitika Borough Council was held at 7 p.m. Present were the Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry), Crs. W. H. Stopforth, J. L. Turner, J. Fox, C. Caliari, D. Stuart and A. It. Eleock.

Mr AV. J. Radford and Mr J. N. Robinson, representing the Kanieri F.lectric Ltd., were present to meet tlie Council to discuss the terms for the’ onsuing ten years of the contract for lighting in the Borough. The Mayor stated the object of the meeting and invited Mr Radford to place the views of the Company before the Council. Mr Radford said the costs had incxeased very considerably in the .last ten years, in some instances as much as 68 per cent. The present contract -had not shown much profit for the company. An efficient lighting system was a difficult problem to carry out, but they had endeavoured in every (possible nay to meet the needs of consumers and thought they had been fairly successful. Since his return from America he had been very disappointed to find that his company’s offer of their plant to the Government had not been accepted, owing no doubt to the difficulties that had arisen in connection with the financial position, and which would now be further aggravated by the out break of war/ 111 regard to the prices charged by tlie Company in Hokitika for lighting and power statistics show that of 40 power boards in New Zealand the prices of four only are below Hokitika, one of which is Auckland, so that goes to prove that Hokitika is very well treated, especially when the small population involved is considered. He would like the Councillors to place their views of the, position before him for consideration. Cr. Turner asked if the Company was prepared to give any reduction on the present charge. Mr Radford said that at the present time the answer was no.

The Mayor asked if the Company was prepared to make the same charges as were being made at Greymouth.

Mr Radford said Greymouth hud a population of 5 to 6000, while Hokitika, had only 2600, and therefore was not in the same position as to costs.

Cr. Turner said unfortunately in reply to enquiries he had only received that afternoon some details as to charges in other centres, but lie had been unable to give the necessary study to them. Personally he thought all parts of the country should be charged the same amount and that could only be done, if all the power lines were under Government control.

Mr Radford said, charges for lighting and power were practically the same as in Greymouth, where lighting was 6c 1 for the first 100 per month and 4d after, Hokitika was 6d for the first 200 and 4d after. The minimum was 2/6 iu Greymouth and 4/- in Hokitika. For power the charge was l|d in both places, Hokitika having a minimum monthly charge of 4/- and Greymouth 2/6. For water heating the charges were Greymouth id to |d and Hokitika id to §d. Domestic services: Hokitika

Id, Greymouth 2d. Metres: Greymouth nil, Hokitika 4d. The Mayor said as far as the Council was concerned the proposals seemed satisfactory. The Company had always met the Council very fairly and had been very attentive to the requirement's of the consumers. It appeared to him that the present proposals of a renewal of the charges at present in force, were fair and he considered the Council should accept them. In answer to Cr. Fox, Mr Radford stated that if there had been no increase in costs the Company would probably have considered a reduction. At the present moment they did not know what increases they would have to meet in the next ten. years. In answer to a question the Mayor said under the terms of contract between the Company and the Council, every ten years the question of the purchase of the Company’s property, or a revision of the charges, came up for decision and the Council had to agree that night to the terms laid down by the Company or have the matter dealt with by arbitration. He felt that the Council should accept the terms offered. Cr. Turner: There does not appear to be anything else to be done. The Mayor then moved that the schedule of prices ;as submitted by the Company, being the same as at present in force, be ratified and accepted for the coining ten years ending in August, 1949. Seconded by Cr. Stuart, who thought the offer was a very fair and reasonable one in all the circumstances. The motion was put and carried with, out dissent. The Mayor thanked Mr Radford and Mr Robinson for attending, expressing appreciation of the courtesy and attention always given by the Company and its officials, and expressing the hop and expectation that the same good relations would always continue. Mr Radford thanked the Mayor for. his kind expressions of goodwill and the Council for their agreement. He could guarantee to give them good service and, if they could do so, would improve it. They could rest assured that the Company would do its best to give every satisfaction. CHURCH RATING. The Council at 7.45 p,m. met representatives of the several churches in regard to the rating of Church properties. There were present the following representatives: —Anglican Rev. Thorpe, Messrs Wild and Ward; Presbyterian—Messrs P.arkhill and Mclntyre; Wesleyan—Rev. Hanna, Messrs Puff and Oliver; Catholip—Rev, Father

Fiiierty; and the Salvation Army, Adjutant Rawcliffe. The Mayor said they had met t-t consider the question of rating oj Church properties. Under the' Rating Act the properties were legally rateable. The Council considered it advisable to meet the Churches on a liberal basis. He felt that they would be prepared to review the question in a libera/ spirit, and he thought that if a charge of one half of the actual rating was accepted that it would he a very fab and liberal settlement. Mr Wild, speaking on behalf of tin deputation, said they appreciated tin courtesy of the Town Clerk in the mat ter. The Church people were aware oi the position of the Council and in viev ot their financial position lie felt tha! the suggestion would be considered reasonable- . The Mayor then moved that tin Council would make a reduction of 50% - on the rate charges on Church proper ties. This he hoped would meet tin position. The motion was seconded by Cr. Caliari and carried. The deputation expressed their approval of the decision and the meeting dispersed. A DEPUTATION. Mr C. Preston waited on the Counci to ask for the piping of the open draii on the south side of Weld Street, be tween Bealey and Hall Streets and foj consideration of the'making of a piped drain on the east side of Bealey Street, between Weld Street and the Quay. After discussion it was resolved tr agree to the first request being carried out, and the Foreman to report on . the . latter. The Council then resolved into Com f mittee to discuss a number of othet matters.