WAITARA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1932, Page 3

WAITARA BOROUGH COUNCIL

POWER CONSUMERS’ ARREARS. Decision at monthly meeting. The disconnection from the electric power supply of consumers in arrears was discussed at the monthly meeting of the Waitara Borough Council last night. It was decided to give defaulters, who are chiefly ex-employees of the freezing works, until January 18 to pay, after which date those in arrears would be disconnected. There were present at the meeting the Mayor (Mr. J. Hine), Crs. E. A. George, H. Wakely, T. Wilson, T. B. Ewens, W. J. Reeves, W. B. Glasgow and H. Spurdie. A lengthy discussion followed a proposal to disconnect all electric power consumers who had not paid their charges. Cr. Glasgow thought it would be better to disconnect defaulters before their arrears became too large. If credit were extended, those now in arrears when back at work would find themselves expected to pay a large sum. .•/ • The Mayor agreed with ■ Cr. Glasgow from ’ the commercial aspect, • but he thought that as the Christmas season was approaching the disconnecting should be suspended until January.

Cr. Spurdie agreed with the Mayor. Crs. George and- Wilson agreed, while pointing out that the action would be a dangerous one. .■ ■ ■ . The Mayor moved an amendment that consumers in arrears with electric power payments be given until January 18 to pay, failing which installations would be disconnected, • • - ■ •

Cr. Ewens moved a further amendment that cases be considered individually by the electric light committee. The position was an extraordinary one, and he asked that the situation, be considered in that light. Cr. Spurdie seconded this amendment,- which was lost, only the mover and the seconder voting for jt. " ■ . • ■ i•’ The Mayor’s amendment was carried.

The retailers of Waitara asked the council to erect coloured lights for the holiday period., . A remission of part of the usual charge was also asked. Cr. Glasgow said - a - verbal application had been made, and he, as chairman of the electric light committee, had authorised the engineer to erect the lights provided the, charge was-paid,in-advance. He was not aware a written application had been made. - r . The .erection of lights was authorised on, the terms outlined by Mr. Glasgow. 'The Kaiapoi Borough Council asked support for an appeal to the Minister of Finance to bring down legislation for the compulsory reduction in the rate of bank interest. ■' / ... . The Mayor said no legislation had yet interfered with demand . mortgages. • It was not.of much use trying .to interfere with such matters. The letter,was received. ■’

Mrs. W. Murphy asked for an extension of the ‘footpath past her residence in Domett Street. It was' decided to form the footpath after another householder had cleared gorse obstruction.

An application for a refund of a portion of a fee paid for a hawker’s license was refused.

The' Petone Borough Council asked support for. elimination of clauses in the Municipal Corporations Act to provide that no large boroughs should be amalgamated' without a poll by ratepayers. The council carried a motion requesting that the measure be not proceeded with until local bodies and the Municipal Association had considered it. A circular was received from the Otago Electric Power Board urging the council to. support a move for the compulsory conversion of local bodies’ loans. The Mayor.thought the council should indicate that although it favoured a reduction in interest on such loans it could not support a move for compulsory conversion. Mr. Hine said bodies had, rushed on and raised their loans at different rates and under different conditions. Negotiations could be better done. by treaty. It was resolved to support any move. for conversion _by negotiation. Notification was received ifrom the Unemployment Board that relief workers under the “over the fence” scheme or. paid by local bodies would not be. insured by the. board. It was expected that such men would be insured ,by the local body concerned, the cost:in the case of. the “over, the fence” scheme to be charged to the farmer., . Z

A discussion on the control of 7 hawking at Waitara followed;the receipt of a set of Auckland City Council by-laws asked for by the Waitara council. Finally it was decided to instruct, the inspector to carry out his duties fully in connection with the licensing of hawkers as provided by the by-laws. The tender- of Mr. W. Graham for. dog collars was accepted. Mr. E. A. Hawkins was appointed tax collector. Christmas and . New Year holidays for the council staff will be three days after Christmas Day and January:2, 3 and 4. The town clerk, was granted three weeks’ leave. ■ ' '■/ The works committee reported that borough work had gone on • as usual. It would be impossible for the foreman to attend to the formation of a parking area at the cemetery until January. The electrical engineer reported that the supply had been fully maintained. The number of units registered in November had been .33,159,. compared with 28,875 units for November; 1931. Three new installations had been connected, two installations reconnected and one disconnected.

The foreman reported that the staff had been engaged in the maintenance of paths and water-tables. The matter of stock taken along roads other than the stipulated stock route was referred to the works committee. ■ • -

Cr. Reeves outlined repair work necessary at the cemetery. The cemetery committee wris empowered, to inquire into the cost of tar-sealing the central path and proceed with the work required.