WATER RATES

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 74, 21 March 1933, Page 2

WATER RATES

Scale May Be Revised REQUESTS FOR CONCESSIONS CONSIDERED BY THE BOROUGH “I think that the whole question of water charges should be revised,” said Cr. W. A. Chambers at the meeting of the Borough Council last evening. “We seem to have adopted a new policy—that of giving concessions to large consumers. If we go on giving a concession first to one man and then to another, we will get into trouble.” The discussion arose out of a letter from the Waipawa Hospital Board asking for a reduction of water charges. “As you are aware,” the letter stated, ‘‘the Board is the biggest consumer of water in the borough. During the first 12 months the amount used was 2,418,000 gallons, for which we paid £136 0s sd, being at the rate of 1/1 i a 1000 gallons, and it is felt that the present charges are rather high. Admittedly your council receives no rates directly from the Board, but this aspect is considerably more than compensated for by the money we disperse in this town, salaries alone to 60 individuals accounting for approximately £6OOO, while a similar amount is also dispersed annually to local tradesmen. Further, over £20,000 has been paid out to local contractors for capital works during the past few years. The hospital levies from the Waipukurau Borough for the current year amount to £333 Ss 3d, so that it will readily be seen that, taking the above question on a profit and loss basis, the institution is a decided asset to the town. It might, be argued that if the hospital were not in Waipukurau and the property were cut up into building sites, the borough would receive more revenue. But, on this question, I would refer you to my letter of July, 1925, wherein it was i shown that, if 30 building sites were made available the meter revenue ' from these at a flat rate of 30/- each I a year would bring in an income of only £4 5. In reply to the Mayor, the clerk said that, on August 20, 1928, the charge was reduced from 1/3 to 1/1 A per 1000 gallons. “Il we give a concession to the hospital board we will simply be giving it to the county ratepayers, as the hospital is not a charitable institution, but is supjiorted largely by levies on the local bodies,” continued Cr. Chambers. He suggested that a schedule should be drawn up, so that if an institution used a great deal of water it would get it at a. lower rate. The hospital would come into that class. “It is a mistake to go on, on a haphazard scale,” he said. The Mayor suggested that the board should be informed that the council could not see its way to make any further concession, but would recommend to the new council that the whole scale of water charges should be revised, when the matter of the hospital could be considered. The suggestion was adopted. A Further Request Messrs. T. C. Denne and Co., Ltd., wrote, asking that the charge for water used for condensing purposes at their factory should remain the same as for the last quarter, namely 6d. a thousand gallons. The Town Clerk stated that an arrangement had been made whereby the following charges had been fixed for the 12 months commencing January 1, 1932 and ending December 31, 1932: —First 30,000 gallons, 1/3 a 1000; second 30,000 gallons, 1/- a 1000; next 90,000 gallons, 9d. a 1000; balance used in 12 months, 6d. a 1000.

The Mayor moved that the company be informed that the council would renew the arrangement made for last year for the next 12 months, but that the new council was being recommended to revise the whole schedule of charges.