POINTS OF VIEW

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4428, 21 May 1941, Page 5

POINTS OF VIEW

UPPER MANGAPIKO DRAINAGE BOARD. (To the Editor.) Sir, —In your issue dated 19th May, you have printed a letter signed by the Clerk of the Upper Mangapiko Drainage Board. The Clerk takes exception to a recent advertisement appearing in your paper outlining a suggested policy to be followed by his Board. I would be obliged if youi correspondent would point out the clause to which he takes the exception. The advertisement was not meant as criticism of the Clerk. I know the Clerk objects to the suggestion that a Press reporter should; be invited to Board meetings. Why? Possibly Mr Hampshire could answer the following questions: 1. Was Mr Gillies aware that the Board, for many years, had adopted an incorrect system of rating causing the rates so struck to be invalid. 2. Does Mr Gillies approve the present policy of the Board in building up an accumulated credit balance in the Special Loan Account? 3. Has he recommended charging the special account 2J per cent, administration costs and to make the charge retrospective notwithstanding the fact that the credit balance has saved the Board’s general account a large sum in overdraft interest annually ? 4. Does the Clerk resent suggestions whereby expense may be saved by his Board ? The Clerk, in fairness to himself, should answer the above questions.— I am, etc., S. A. AMMON. Hairini. LIGHTING CHARGES. Sir, —After the elections last Saturday night Mr Montefiore spoke about his successful efforts in getting the lighting charges brought down. All credit to him for that, but I would like to see this adding of twopence in the shilling cut out. It is an insulting thing to add it on and then call it a discount, and means that we have to pay 16 per cent if we do not pay to the minute and it ought to be put before the Price Tribunal to decide what is a fair interest rate on unpaid accounts. If the new members on the Board want to know why I helped to put them there they can take it plain that I (for one) object to this rate of 16 per cent and that I expect them to get an honest discount for prompt payment.—l am, etc., Aiß.