DESTRUCTOR COSTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20985, 23 September 1931, Page 12

DESTRUCTOR COSTS.

PLANT AT NORTH SHORE. TAKAPUNA DESIRES CHANGE. TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT MADE The attitude of the Takapuna Borough Council in regard to the contributions to ward operating the North Shore destructor was explained by the Mayor, Mr. J. Guiniven, at a meeting of the Destructor Committee, convened bv him as chairman Mr. Guiniven made it clear that the Takapuna council in future would not be prepared to follow the procedure of former councils in the management of the destructor. Until he had perused the joint standing agreement between the participating local bodies, he said, ho had not been aware that the administration of the destructor was solely a question for the committee and not the Takapuna council. As a result of his study of the agreement he had found it necessary t6 advise his council to cease financing the dues for the operation and upkeep of the plant. It was defined in clause 14 of the agreement that all moneys were to bo paid by tlie committee, which was empowered to demand contributions proportionate to the relative capital values of the interested boroughs. Cost of Replacements. This procedure had not been followed, Mr: Guiniven contended. In the past Takapuna had been financing the operations and had presented a half-yearly account. Another consideration was the expense consequent upon the collapse of some of the interior portions of the destructor some time after its construction. Extensive alterations and replacements had to be carried out at a. cost of several hundred pounds. Since then the Northcote Borough Council had suspended payment and had refused to contribute toward the cost of the replacements which had been essential for Lho efficient working of the destructor. "The result of this attitude has been that £l5O is due to Takapuna," tho chairman went on to say. "Tho position seems to me to be most unfair." Mr. It. Martin, Mayor of Northcote, and Mr. A. Facer, a member of the council, outlined the attitude of their council, which contended that it could not be compelled to contribute to any capital expenditure additional to tho amount mentioned in the agreement. Shortage in Current Funds. Mr. Guiniven said a serious position in regard to the funds available for operating the destructor already had been reached. There was not sufficient money in hand to meet the running costs and to pay wages for the present week and he thought it would be necessary for Devonport, Takapuna and Northcote to placo amounts in the hands of the secretary of the committee, Mr. 11. Bowden, to meet current expenses. Replying to a suggestion that Takapuna should make the payments for the week, pending the receipt of legal advice on the position, Mr. Guiniven said ho would refuse to instruct Mr. Bowden to meet the expenses out of any funds of the Takapuna council, apart from the correct contribution bv the borough. After further discussion the committee Vdecided, upon the motion of the Mayor of Devonport, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, that all three councils should contribute amounts sufficient for the expenses for a period of three months. The committee agreed to have a report brought down at the next ordinary meeting by its solicitor on tho several points raised.