WATER RATES OUTSIDE THE BOROUGH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8543, 25 March 1908, Page 2

WATER RATES OUTSIDE THE BOROUGH.

A DEPUTATION'S REQUEST.

Considerable discussion took place at the meeting of the Borough Council last night with regard to the request of the deputation consisting of Messrs Barber and R. S. Abraham, who waited on the Council at the previous meeting in connection with tho charges made for water used- by them and others, also in connection with the meters, which they stated were unreliable.

Cr. Holben thought the Council had been unreasonable in the matter. They had bargained that, they would supply the residents at- Fitzherbert with water, provided they would go to tho expense of laying down the neccssary main*. This the deputation- and those they represented had done; they took the. Council's word that they would get the water if they would pay the cost. If tho Council had made promises, it was only right they should keep their promises. On the other hand, if people came to them after they had made this bargain and wanted to be connected outside the borough, it was only right they should be charged, but where they had already made a bargain, the Council should hold to it. The Council had overlooked tho fact that one of the dejuitation was ono of the largest ratepayers in town, and in that case they certainly ought to stick to their decision to only charge them at a fixed rate. Cr. Luxford agreed with Cr. Holben, and thought that if the Council had promised to give them water at a fixed rato they ought to do so. Cr. Haydon stated that he did not think there was much in Cr. Holben's argument that one of tho deputation was one of ' the largest ratepayers in the town. No doubt they were entitled to consideration if a bargain had been entered into, but the other line of argument had not a groat deal to support it. There were two definite properties in Rangitikei Line alluded to by Cr. Holben, but"*if ono of these were not owned bv Mr Abraham, then it would be owned by some other ratepayer. He quite agreed that it was rather hard that the town properties should not be brought into the question, but if Mr Abraliam did not use the large property for stock, there would probably be a number of small properties where the saleyards now were, the owners of which would be paying rates. Cr. Matheson thought the rates were rather hard on Mr Abraham, taking into consideration' the small quantity of water that was used at tho town property.

Cr. Stubbs stated that very few considered the rates too high in town. He understood that the putting in of those meters aid not in all cases pay. The houses supplied in Fitzherbert were large ones. He considered that Mr Barber had no claim whatever on the Council. When tho Council wanted to bring the mains across his property , Mr Barber wanted to charge them £1000 for the concession. His complaint was that he had no liberty with the v ater. He had every sympathy with Messrs Abraham and Russell, who, if they had tho water pressure there, could always quell an s incipient fire and prevent it from becoming a large one. He understood that the promise had been given during tho pleasure of the Council, and he had told Mr Barber so. If the water was costing too much they could stop using it, and they would only lose their pipes. It seemed to him that they had little cause for complaint considering they wore only pi-ying Is more than was being charged the industries in town. The mere they used the more they had to pay, and the less they usei the less they had to pay. With regard to the complaint about the failure o!" the meter, he had noticed that month after month the record was tho same, which showed that the meter was reliable rather thai otherwise. If there was any do-ibt ihe Council should take the meters out and test them properly. There was reason in all things, and a house like Mr Abraham's used so much water that it woul.l be wrong to say they would agree to charge (hem so much and no more.

I The Mayor said thero was no doubt these gentlemen felt a certain amount of hardship, but the conditions now ob taining were entirely different to what they were previously. At the time when (he water was laid on to these places the interest was very low, but as time passed more money had been expended in giving the town the benefit of an adequate supply of water. Mains could rot bo laid without revenue, and it was reasonable that the Council should ex pect that people who went outside tho borough to escape paying rates should be asked to contribute towi-rds the cost of the water supply. He cculd not say in equity that -they had no cause to put. in a claim a.t all, but ho did not think for a moment ihat the, rioters wore registering any more than they should. The meters at the largest houses registered a greater amount, of water than those at the smaller ones, and this showed plainly that they were working properl-/, and he was quite satisfied + hat thov were. It had to be borne in mind that money would be required for future extension of the waterworks and it was probable that next year they would have to find from £10,000 to £15,000 for that purpose. The Railway Department paid big water rates, and were quite satisfied. They were, as a rule, the hardest to deal with, but they knew that the borough had gone in for a heavy expenditure, and were prepared to pay for their water tupply. The gentlemen represented by tho deputation were only asked to pay tho same as the people in town. Cr. Stubbs thought the deputation ought to be informed that they were charged in accordance with the scale laid down in the borough by-laws, and that the Council oould not see its way to make any change in the matter. It was finally dccided that Messrs Abraham' and others be informed that their application for reduction in tho water rates would be considered when the by-laws are revised.