THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14930, 1 March 1912, Page 5

THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY

THE AMENDED BY-LAWS.

CHARGE BY METER URGED.

DISCUSSED BY THE COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the City Council was held last night to discuss proposed amendments to the by-laws relating to the supply of -water to citizens and local bodies. .The Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) presided, and there were also present: Messrs. J. Court, R. T. Michaels, J. Trevi thick, P. M. Mackay, A. J. Entrican, P. J. Nerheny, G. Read, G. Knight, J. M. Mennie, and R. Tudehope. . The By-laws Committee recommended that tho portion of tho by-laws referring to charges for water closets be repealed, and tho following clauses bo substituted: —Water closets (as and calculated. from January 1, 1912) in hotels, in clubs, in lodging and boardinghouses, where accommodation is provided for seven or more lodgers, and in factories and business establishments whero 25 or moro persons are employed, for tho first or only water closet therein, £3 per annum; for one- additional water • closet therein, £2'; for each additional water closet therein, £1; in all other establishments, , excepting private dwcllinghouses, each £1 109 per annum; in private dwellinghouses, for the first or only water closet therein, 15s per annum; for each additional water closet therein, 7s 6d per annum. _ With regard to the charges. for baths, tho committee recommended tho repeal of tho present by-laws in favour of the following:—ln hotels having 10 or moro bed- • rooms, each £2 10s per annum; in hotels having less than 10 bedrooms, each £1 10s per annum; in lodging and boardinghouses having 10 or moro bedrooms, each £2 per annum; in lodging and boardinghouses having less than 10 bedrooms, each £1 10s per annum; in lodging and boardinghouses. having less than fivo bedrooms, each 15s per annum. A further recommendation of the Bylaws Committee was that tho supply of water to tho Training College, Wellesleystreet, for the swimming bath at that institution, should bo charged for at the rate of 8d per 1000 gallons; the water for tho Mount Eden swimming bath, at 6d per 1000 gallons; and all water for suburban local bodies for street watering from the tramway electric sprinkler, at 6d per 1000 gallons. An amended by-law was also recommended to provide that the Council might at, its own discretion require any or every meter registration to be read, and charges based thereon paid at any shorter period than quarterly. Mr. Mennie brought up the question of the method now adopted in charging merchants and business people, who, he declared, were paying twice over for tho same water. That used for lifts was charged through meter at lOd per 1000 gallons, and _ after that it was again charged against them when used for flushing closets. He contended that it, was time all business premises, warehouses, etc., should be charged a uniform rate for water by meter, and moved, " That tho time- has arrived when it is necessary to fix the charges for water as supplied to tho citizens and tho outside local bodice, on a more • equitablo basis than has existed hitherto; (2) that all business establishments, banks, warehouses, factories,- hotels, boardinghouses, restaurants, etc., should only bo supplied by meter; and at such ''&.,. fixed rate as may hereafter bo agreed upon; (3) that nil purely private dwellings, whose ratable value does not exceed £100 per annum, be charged as heretofore." Mr. Court seconded tho motion, stating that he considered the Council at present was making unjust charges, and instancing some existing anomalies. Mr. Entrican supported the motion, though favouring the whole matter going ; to the Finance Committee, so . that they might go into figures.. He also thought a sliding scale of charges should bo struck. The waterworks engineer, in reply to the Mayor, said there would bo no objection to charging uniformly by meter, so* long as the necessary revenue was forthcoming. . -~ Mr. Tudchopo " said that no doubt to charge by meter was tho right system, but to bring about such a change meant raising tho price per 1000 gallons. If the Council did this, there would be a howl of indignation from consumers. The Mayor touched upon tho financial side of tho question. Ho pointed out that what the •Council had to consider was what was a fair profit on the capital expenditure invested in the water business, and what should be set aside for depreciation. Mr. Nerheny said ho thought meters should bo supplied to all houses over £20 valuation. Ho also considered that if the water rates were to be increased to private citizens, tho outside local bodies should also have to pay more. Eventually Mr. Mennie's motion was lost, and tho whole question was referred to a special committee, consisting of Messrs. Tudehope, Court, Mennie, Entrican, Shaw, and Nerheny. •' ■