GREY LYNN WATER RATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15964, 8 July 1915, Page 4

GREY LYNN WATER RATES.

REDUCTION TO INDIVIDUALS. BENEFIT OF AMALGAMATION. | A reduction - of one-sixth in the rate payable by individual ratepayers in Grey Lynn I for water will be secured by an amendment of the city by-laws made by the City Council at a special meeting yesterday afternoon. This is in accordance with an interpretation by the city solicitor of a clause in the deed of amalgamation between the city and the Borough of Grey Lynn. The position was explained yesterday by Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, a member of the City Council, who was an active advocate of amalgamation. He said that it was understood the reduction of one-sixth in the water rate should be made to individual ratepayers, reducing the cost of water from Is 6d to Is 3d per 1000 gallons. According to the interpretation by the city officials, the clause in question secured the reduction to the ratepayers as a body. Consequently they had been paying the same rates as before, and one-sixth of the amount h.d, he stated, been used towards the extinction of a debt en the old Grey Lvnn water account, though this was a liability which the city had accepted upon amalgamation Representations had been made on the matter, and the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson had written a letter to the former Mayor and councillors (A Grey Lynn, in which* he stated that the clause must properly be interpreted to mean that there must "be a reduction to individual ratepayers, and that the previous interpretation was incorrect.

rhe subject came before the City Council yesterday, when Mr. Gunson stated he had no hesitation, after consulting the city solicitor, in saying that it was the intention of those responsible for the final negotiations to secure the reduction to the individual ratepayers. The necessary amendment of the bv-laws was approved. '