FAIRVIEW WATER SUPPLY

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22143, 11 December 1941, Page 4

FAIRVIEW WATER SUPPLY

COST TO LEVELS COUNTY The fact that the Fairview water supply maintenance account showed a heavy debit was brought to the notice of the Levels County Council yesterday by the clerk (Mr G. B. Bird). The report presented by Mr Bird stated that the Fairview scheme was opened during the year 1934-35, water being purchased from the Timaru Borough Council at 6d per 1000 gallons,- and sold to 24 ratepayers in the Fairview water supiy district at 9d per 1000 gallons. The profit of 3d per 1000 gallons was thought sufficient to meet the cost of maintaining the scheme. Unfortunately this has not proved to be the case and the account to-day shows a fairly large debit. Receipts since 1935 totalled £73/9/2 and payments £lO4/3/3, leaving a debit of £3O/14/1.

The report continued: “The present position appears to be due to the following: (1) The margin of 3d per 1000 gallons is insufficient to maintain the scheme; (2) the council has not charged meter rents; (3) no deposits have been collected from consumers. The council has recently had the experience of being unable to collect charges due. Had deposits been obtained the loss in this case would have been considerably reduced; (4) during 1940-41 the council had to maintain the Timaru Borough Council’s water race until a connection could be made with the new pipe line. As the scheme has been in operation for over seven years, it does not appear that any action could now be taken to charge meter rents or collect deposits. Tire only other method of increasing revenue is to increase the water charges, and I would suggest that it be raised to at least 1/3 per 1000 gallons.” The matter is to be fully discussed at the next meeting.