HOSPITAL WATER

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1935, Page 7

HOSPITAL WATER

BOROUGH CHARGES HIGHER. COST TO BOARD £4OO MORE. An increase of £4OO in the annual cost of water used at the New Plymouth Hospital would result when the New Plymouth Borough Council introduced the new rates it proposed, it was stated at a meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday. After discussing the proposed rates the board decided to ask the council, to reconsider the matter. The proposal submitted by the works committee of the borough council was that the council should supply the board with water on the basis of- Is for lOOti gallons for the first.9ooo and 6d for 1000 gallons in excess of that quantity. Such rates were not to operate until April 1, 1936. The board while appreciating the offer of the council to withhold the operation of the new rates until April decided to ask the council to reconsider the matter.

The average daily water consumption was 29,400 gallons, reported the engineer, Mr. J. H. Mander. The main hospital meter was taken out by the borough council staff and .tested in his presence and proved to be correct. With a view to reducing the consumption he had made some alterations in the pipe lines and in future regular readings would be taken and a check made on excessive consumption. “It means an increase ,of £4OO in the water costs on a basis of an annual consumption of 12,000,000 gallons,” said the chairman, Mr. P. E. Stainton, who in reply to criticism by board members, said that the consumption was by no means excessive as large quantities of water were necessary for the working of the institution. The board desired a flat rate of 6d for 1000 gallons, less 10 per cent., said Mr. Stainton, but this was not acceptable to the works committee, which agreed that in view of the fact that the board’s levies were already struck the increased charge should not be made until April. t ——————