‘IT IS AN IMPOSITION”

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1934, Page 7

‘IT IS AN IMPOSITION”

WATER CHARGES TO SCHOOL. WEST END MAKES PROTEST. Strong protests at the decision of the New Plymouth Borough Council to instal water meters at the primary’schools and to charge for supply at the rate of 6d a 1000 gallons were made at the meeting of the West End School Committee last night. It was decided to write the Education Board pointing out the severe handicap that would be imposed on committees by the new heavy rates. An alternative offered by the council was that if a committee objected to a meter it might receive its supply at the present rates charged. The chairman (Mr. C. O. Berg) said the water supply last year had cost the committee £6. He had ascertained from the Education Board that the charge this year would be £ll 19s. The Fitzroy School Committee had objected to the increased rates. It was explained that the new charge was based on the number of lavatories, taps and other water supply points. Mr. E. V. Tingey: What about the school holidays? Have they been taken into consideration? The Central school had to pay £l6, said the chairman. He understood the question would be discussed by the Education Board next week. Mr. W. H. Jones considered the basis of charging was not fair. The borough was not hard put for water, for it had an ample supply. “I think it is an imposition,” he said. ■ “The council wants showing up,” said Mr. Tingey, who contended that with millions •of gallons available in the district and water- going to waste, New Plymouth ■ had enough water to supply Auckland, with proper management. “It is a disgrace to the council for it to talk of meters -for schools,” he added. ■ Mr. Jones pointed out that the committee had only a limited amount of capitation, and it 'would only mean that the new charge would have to be paid by the householders. He thought the council should supply the schools free. The school would be dropping to grade sc, with the result that the capitation would be reduced substantially. Mr. F. A. Hooker suggested it would mean the householders would have to pay twice. Other points made were that with the roll at about 400 the school would be paying for water more than it did when the roll was l 700, and that the Central school, with twice as many pupils, would pay only: £4 more than West End. Mr. Jones said he would be prepared to suggest that; the Education Board should , send a deputation to the council, supplemented by representatives of school committees.