WAIMATE HIGHER WATER RATE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21998, 25 June 1941, Page 3

WAIMATE HIGHER WATER RATE

Meeting Cost Of The Scheme Borough Estimate* Adopted An increase of 75 per cent, in the water rate was sanctioned by the Waimate Borough Council on Monday night to cover the cost of the new scheme. The new rate is estimated to realise about £4OO and the increase to ratepayers will vary from 12/6 to 15/a house. The consolidated rate will remain at 1/11 in the £, the same as last year, and is estimated to realise £5650.

The estimates allow for payments of £11,862 compared with £11,383/17/111 for the year ended March 31. Those figures do not include the handling of relief wages or the refund of heavy traffic fees. The addition of those figures brought last year’s payments up to £18,761. On the receipts side, the consolidated rate is expected to realise £5650 compared with £5699 for the year just closed. The two main increases are in the water rates which go from £654 to £lO5O and refunds which rise from £774 to £9OO.

The Mayor (Mr W. F. Boland) said in the first year of the new water scheme the water rate would only rise 75 per cent., which would mean an Increase to the average householder of between 12/6 and 15/-. When making up the estimates the finance committee had been faced with a deficit of £BOO and as much of that was due to the water scheme, it was decided that the water service should carry some of the burden. It had also been suggested thgt the charge to outside consumers should be increased from £3/10/- to £4 to bring them into line. The Increase in refunds was accounted for by the fact that borough workman would be engaged on the water scheme and their wages would be paid from the loan. Not all the extra costs totalling £BOO were due to the water scheme, however, as the Council had to meet an Increase of £l6O In the hospital levy, £7O for elections and higher wages as well as higher 1 prices for materials. Altogether, it was fortunate that provision could be made st such small cost for the water scheme to proceed. ..■ In connection with the water scheme, two letters were received frdm the Department of Internal Affairs stating that the application for ah extension of the authority to barrow wasunder consideration. It was stated that- the interest rate would now be, 4 per efifit.. The finance committee had asked tor the repayment terms to be extended hi view of the increased interest charge.

Items In Estimates , The following items were included in the estimated expenditure: Fire prevention £l6O, hospital levy £B7O, harbour levy £325, town clock £2o,' salaries £660, insurance £2BO, honorarium £l5O, street lighting £360, sanitation loan charges £1325, wages On reserves £1100; wages on sanitation £2OO, water loan charges £506, wages on works £950. kerblng and channelling £l5O, and motor maintenance £530. Estimated receipts include: Consolidated rates £5650, sanitary charges £7O, drainage charges £2125, water rates £lO5O, outside water consumers £7OO and refunds £9OO. Last year the water rates realised £654 and refunds amounted to £774. The Mayor said a meeting had been held in connection with The Emergency Precautions Scheme, and it was found that some of the committees appointed had not met since September, 1939. It was desirable that the committees should be put on a proper basis and there was very little organisation among the committees. The Borough Council, he said, was the central committee, and a list of rearranged committees, each one containing a member of the Council, had been prepared. ELDERLY MAN BREAKS THIGH Mr J. C. Allfrey, aged 75, of King Street, Walmate, fell down a flight of stairs in Messrs Graham and Clear’s shop and fractured a thigh: He was removed to the Waimate hospital and his condition yesterday was reported to be satisfactory. WAIMATE SOLDIERS ABROAD He had learned from a letter he had read that day, that there were 170 Waimate soldiers in Egypt, the Mayor (Mr W. F. Boland) stated at the meeting of the Waimate Borough Council on Monday night. Efforts were being made to hold a reunion of Waimate men, he said. MINIATURE RIFLES At the weekly shoot of the Amo Miniature Rifle Club, scores recorded were: G. Thomas 77, E. Wright 77, H. Allen 77, P. McDonald 77, J. Purdie 76, B. Stace 75, G. G. Hosack 74, M. McLean 74, L. Meredith 74, J. Campbell 74, J. Campbell 74, E. C. Wright 73, G. McKenzie 73, L. Dasler 72, R. Cameron 72, F. McDonald 72, N. Thompson 71. PERSONAL A motion of sympathy with the relatives of Private. H. J. Horler.. wbQ was killed in action, was carried by the Waimate Borough Council on Monday night. The Mayor (Mr W. F. Boland) after moving the motion referred to the large number of Waimate soldiers missing, and expressed the hope that good news would soon be heard about them. Tlie Waimate Borough Council on Monday night congratulated the town clerk (Mr B. S. Runciman), on the fact that the balance-sheet had been returned from the Auditor-General without any tags.