MOUNT EDEN RATES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 686, 11 June 1929, Page 14

MOUNT EDEN RATES

CURRENT YEAR’S LEVY WATER CHARGES INCREASE Providing fo~ the striking of a consolidated rate of 3s 11d in the pound for the year ending March 31. 1930, on a similar scale to that collected last year, proposals were placed before the Mount Eden Borough Council at a meeting last evening. That portion of the borough transferred from the Mount Roskill road district in 1925 will be subject to its own rating, the amount remaining at Is 7d in the pound. The Mayor, Mr. E. TI. Potter, gave notice to move on July S that these rates should be made and levied, and said that they would be sufficient to meet the estimated commitments for the year, including interest on toa ns and * ordinary expenditure. They would be subject to 2h per cent, discount if paid within 30 days. Mr. Potter proposes that the special rates struck to provide the interest and sinking fund on Water Loan No. 3 shall remain as struck, but that only an amount sufficient to meet requirements shall be collected. This will amount, in the No. 3 water district, to lid in the pound. Where meters are installed, the ordinary water rates will be 2s a 1,000 gallons used or 2s 4d in the portion of the borough transferred frqm Mt. Roskill, the minimum rates being £1 12s and £1 17s 4d respectively.

Heavy expenditure had been made from loan during the last three years, and the programme of work was increased. to assist the unemployed, said Mr. Potter. The programme for the present year included sewerage, drainage and resurfacing of roads in permanent material, for which a definite sum would be allocated, so that interest and sinking fund would be paid out of revenue from new' valuations. The estimates had been framed to meet ordinary expenditure only. The City Council’s announcement that it proposed increasing the charge for water by meter to Is 3d a 1,000 gallons was no cause for surprise, said Mr. Potter. “It merely bears out what I have contended during the past years, that the City Council water supply is on the wrong lines. It is obvious that the charge will not stop at Is 3d a 1,000 gallons, as the city proposes to tap the Hunua, at a cost considerably exceeding that of the Waitakere development. When the outside local bodies endeavoured to form a water board the city actively opposed, and at that time was sure that it could continue the supply at Is a thousand gallons. Since the commission sat in 1926 we have had one summer in which there was an insufficient supply, and now we are to have an increased charge.” Of interest at the present time would be an extract from the Auckland Water Commission report, which read: “Although, in the opinion of your commissioners, nothing in the history of Auckland’s management of its water undertaking shows any desire to take undue advantage of neighbouring local bodies, it was virtually admitted by the Auckland City at the inquiry before your commissioners that the price of Is a 1,000 gallons charged to various purchasing bodies would stand a reduction.” “Unfortunately,” added Mr. Potter, “we have to increase our charge, but we ask the users of water to exercise reasonable care to keep down their payment for water, and to note that the meter charge includes all separate charges, such as are sometimes made for hose or lavatories.”

That the financial position of the borough compared favourably with that of most boroughs in New Zealand was satisfactory. In comparison with the capital value of the borough loan, indebtedness was light, and the sinking funds were making a substantial provision for the redemption of the loans. Government loans were being steadily repaid on the amortisation method. The earliest date when loans would fall due was 1937, and after that date a substantial reduction in rates might be anticipated.