STREET LIGHTS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32704, 24 April 1946, Page 7

STREET LIGHTS

AGREEMENT REACHED 20 TO BE IN COROMANDEL CHARGE ON GENERAL ACCOUNT Arrangements for the instalation of street lights in Coromandel were completed at the April meeting of the Coromandel County Council when after discussion with Mr Strongman of the Strongman Electrical Supply Company, it was agreed that the council pay £6/10/0 per 100 watt lamp per annum and maintenance. This arrangement was made for the first 12 months. It was then resolved that the Clark Electrical Company at Whitianga be notified that the Strongman Electrical Supply Co. hadi accepted the council’s offer of £67'10/(} per 100 watt plus maintenance, and the council was prepared) to make the same payment to them. This wtas carried. It was then proposed by the chairman, Mir.E. Deeble, and seconded by Cr. E. J. Simpson that the Strongman Electrical Supply Co. be authorised to erect 20 street lights in Coromandel at the suggested quotation not exceeding £2lO-.—Carried. Some Opposition It was next moved by the chair - man and seconded by Cr. A. J.. Notman that the cost of street lighting in both Coromandel and Whitianga be a charge on the general account of the county. This was also carried. Crs. Jackson, Denize and Hamilton voting against it. Cr. A. J. Denize very forcibly expressed his surprise at other councillors voting in favour of the second resolutions, which in his opinion was a gross injustice to the ratepayers in the outlying districts who would) never or very seldom even see the lights. It was an unjust piece of legislation as far as he was concerned. Cr. Jackson asked if the whole county could be levied so much per head, making it an equal payment for everyone, instead of as was intended, i.e., on the capital values, which meant that the big ratepayers would be carrying a far larger share of the ■burden than the people living in the town and getting the full benefit' of the lights. The clerk, Mr J. H. Lucas, pointed ut that there was no provision made to do as Cr. Jackson suggested; Centres Will Grow In reply to the remarks made by the previous speakers, the chairman said that the lighting, of the two main centres, Coromandel and Whitianga, was going to make a great deal of difference to the amount of rates paid, which would in a large measure offset the amount that the other parts of the county would be contributing to the lighting of these centres. Whitianga was going through a period of prosperity in so far as new buildings that were going up and Coromandel would be the same once the modern amenities were provided by way of electricity. On every hand, enquiries were being made for building sites in Coromandel. Crs. F'. J. Simpson and A. Watkins said they had held 1 ratepayers’ meetings in Whitianga and Kuaotuna and resolutions were carried at both places supporting the committee’s suggestion that the street lighting be a charge on general accounts. They were both convinced that the increase of houses and building- projects in the two centres would bring in a very large proportion of rates to offset the cost of providing the much needed amenities such as electric light.