BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY AND OUTSIDE CONSUMERS.

Northern Advocate, 20 July 1915, Page 4

BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY AND OUTSIDE CONSUMERS.

(To the Editor)

Sir, —In connection with the Maunu water supply I learn that the Borough Council intends charging county residents Is per thousand gallons, with a minimum annual charge of £3. The alleged reason is that as the Borough alone is responsible for the outlay in connection with the above scheme, it is justified in charging this astonishing price to all consumers non-resi-dent in the borough. No one can object to the charge of Is per thousand gallons but what I and many others object to is the high minimum fixed upon. I wish to ask why the Borough shffuld act in the matter of water supply in direct violation of every recognised commercial principle. The Borough's action, carried to its logical conclusion, would mean that a business man who erects a costly building in Whangarei and lays in a large stock of goods, should charge all outsiders double rates for such goods on the grounds that he alone was responsible for the large outlay necessitated by the starting of the business, and that before he would supply a customer with, say, 1 cwt of sugar, he woud demand payment in advance for half a ton. If a customer enters an hotel and places the price of a pint of beer on the counter, what would be the result if the landlord demanded the price of 10 gallons before the customer was allowed to imbibe his pint of liquid joy It will be acknowledged that such a fantastic method of conducting business could only originate in the mind of a Bedlamite, yet is is on such terms as these that the most potent, grave and revered seigneurs who control the municipal destinies of Whangarei propose to act towards all county residents who wish to be connected with the new water system. A person of ordinary intelligence would be apt to think that a shrewd business man who starts a new venture would welcome every fresh customer, realising that every pound spent in his establishment not only helps to reduce his liability but also adds a little to his profits. If the Borough will accept a minimum of say 30s per annum with a slightly increased charge for anything over 30,000 gallons nearly every settler within reach of the line would become a customer, but r.ll. are agreed that the proposed oliars'e of £3 is prohibitive. It is for the Council to decide whether they prefer to accept a ■ reasonable amount or allow the water to run into the sea. —Yours etc.,

AQUA PURA