INDECISION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 211, 11 September 1940, Page 5

INDECISION

COUNCIL AWAITS SUGGESTIONS \ THE RUBBI&H PROBLEM "With regard to the collection of rubbish in the Borough," said the Mayor at last Monday's meet ing of the Borough Council, "we have discussed the matter fully but find that it is very complicated and; that we are faced with continual difficulties about the method of collection and 1 the question of meeting the cost. We have therefore decided to bring it before the open meeting and invite suggestions from other councillors." Mr Barry explained that there were three methods which could be employed. Firstly, the rates could be raised say Id in the £. This to his mind was unfair and he was opposed to it on the ground that it would be further penalising the man Avlio was paying more than enough already. The second method was by a levy of 15s or 20s per annum on the individual ratepayers, but this again would penalise the man who owned several houses, the tenants of Avhich would receive the benefit for nothing. Thirdly, there could be a direct charge on the householder,, but how was this to be collected. Payment could not be enforced under the Act and there would probably be many defaulters. Cr Armstrong: Could, not the dev mand be put on the electrical accounts? The Mayor: It would not be satisfactory and the Town Clerk tells me that it would increase the work of the office very considerably. Cr Shapley thought that if tilie facility were introduced, rubbish should be collected twice monthly. The Mayor: The trouble is tljat in most of the other places we have enquired from they do the work themselves, If Cr Shapley's suggestion was put into force a collection could be made of half the town every week. Cr Otley pointed out that wliile the council realised the necessity of the service, it was endeavouring to find out an equitable method of meeting the expense. He suggested the purchase of 'tokens' by those who desired the service. In this, way it would not be a compulsory levy. The Mayor: It is an essential service and it is! just a matter of putting it into operation. , The subject was left at that,.