SCHOOL WATER SUPPLY

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1934, Page 9

SCHOOL WATER SUPPLY

CONCESSION BY BOROUGH ONE-THIRD OF ORDINARY RATES. DEPUTATION FROM COMMITTEES. THE RESOLUTIONS RESCINDED. The New Plymouth Borough Council has decided to rescind recently-made resolutions relating to school water supply and to substitute a regulation providing for the supply of water to all schools in the borough at a flat rate of fourpence per thousand gallons, the consumption to be gauged by meters furnished and installed by the council free of cost. “I am sure,” said the Mayor (Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour) addressing delegates representative of public school committees in the area controlled by the council, that, at the end of the year you will be pleased with the arrangement.” The recision of the previous rates had already been recommended by the works committee following a conference with representatives of the Education Board, when the problem was discussed. The deputation which waited on the council last night comprised Messrs. W. H. Jones (West End), F. A. Coleman (Central), J. M. Thomson (Vogeltown), G. W. Turnbull (Westown) and R. Millman (Moturoa). Mr. Jones said that committees _ were perturbed by the new water rate introduced by the council, suddenly finding that the amount they were expected to pay was nearly double the former rate. As far back as 1917 the council had made concessions to schools and fixed the amount schools were expected to pay for their water. At the beginning of this year the West End committee had found that instead of having to pay £6 for its water it had to pay £ll 19s. It was generally recognised that the council had a right to charge for water consumed, continued Mr. Jones, but after all, £35 comprised the council’s revenue from schools under the old scale of charges and £7O under the new. The sum was not very important in council finances, but the school committees were placed in a difficult position when required to meet a higher bill. In capitation allowance not particular notice was taken of water rates. Actually , the committees had to meet the additional liability as best it could, and might well have to go back to the householders to provide the necessary money. CHILDREN OF RATEPAYERS. The request for reconsideration of the rates already levied was made on behalf of the children of ratepayers. He was aware that control and the problem of wastage were more important to the council than the amount of money involved. It was quite reasonable that steps should- be taken to assure that water supply was controlled and not wasted in the schools, but he suggested that the problem might better be met by granting a certain amount of water to the schools free of charge and impose a charge for excess used. He suggested that the amount granted could be fixed on the basis of the schools’ present population, and that 750 gallons be taken as the average child’s yearly consumption. “We do not,” he said, “want to create a position such that economy in the use of water would in any way affect health.” Mr. Coleman said that he was the representative of the largest school at New Plymouth. Capitation money received was barely enough to carry on. Last quarter’s cheque was for £44, of which the caretaker’s wages amounted to £3O, leaving only £l4 to meet other urgent requirements. The council could, see how important the additional rate was to school committees. Councillors inquired as to the rates being paid by various schools at the present time. Mr. Jones stated that the present rate of £ll 19s was for a school with an attendance of 350 children. Various estimates had been made of the amount of water consumed by each child, but about 700 gallons seemed a moderately accurate one. The deputation was then informed, of the recommendations made by the works committee regarding the revised scale of charges and was asked if it thought the arrangement was a fair one. PRINCIPLE ARGUED. Mr. Jones expressed appreciation of the council’s action in making so considerable a concession, but remarked that he would like to see the principle of supplying a certain amount of water to schools free of charge established, and a penal rate levied for excess consumption. Cr. P. E. Stainton suggested that it might be better to examine the figures .of consumption, at the end of the year and then, if necessary, reconsider the matter. Cr. S. J. Smith explained that the works committee had formulated its suggested rate on estimating a fair consumption per child to be between 700 and 750 gallons. The aspect of ratepayers having possibly to provide the money to meet the bill had also been taken into consideration. Mr. Jones had remarked that £7O spread over the whole of the ratepayers did not seem a very great amount. It should also be remembered that the works committee worked very close to scheduled estimates.

Mr. Gilmour pointed out that fourpence . per 1000 gallons was only onethird of the charge usually made for water. ... Cr. J. W. Darby: Why not agree.to Mr. Jones suggestion and have a penal rate for excess consumption? The council would be losing very little by spreading the estimated receipt of £3O over the entire borough. The council, however, decided that it would be better to let the works committee’s recommendation stand until the end of the year, when a review could be made if necessary.

An additional motion agreed to ■ was that the charges for water to primary schools for the current year should be at the same rate as they were respectively charged for the year ended March 31, 1934, and the difference between such charges and the charges made for the year ending March 31, 1935, should be written off.