NOTHING TO HIDE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 73, 16 May 1944, Page 5

NOTHING TO HIDE

BOROUGH COUNCIL'S ATTITUDE

ANSWER TO CRITIC

A letter from a correspondent J. Ditchfield, asking for certain information with regard 1 to the Borough finances gave ri'se to considerable discussion, when it was read at the May meeting last week. The writer sought details regarding the profit made in the electricity account and how it was disposed l of; also whether or not the Price Tribunal hadl been consulted iti the matter of changes and if so which tribunal Auckland or Wellington. He concluded by intimating that he had written the Hon. W. E. Parry asking if he were within his rights in asking for the information. "We know of course why this information is requested/' observed the Mayor. "It is to be shot back us. All the same I am quite prepared to stand behind the whole of the accounts of this council and 1 move that all the information ask■ed for be supplied." Cr Shapley seconded. "I like to see these young chaps having a go," said Cr Canning. "Bt shows they are taking an interest in local body matters. They can crlitlcise us as much as they li'ltq and I think we can take it alright." He went on to say that, if any of them were elected they would find themselves confronted with exactly the same problems 1 as the present council and he did not think they "would do any better. Cr Sullivan said it was all very fine to comment about the profit -'made in the electricity account. Be'fore criticising it was necessary to liave a knowledge of the background •of the service and understand it from its infancy. The town's first "service was lighting scheme only and when it became necessary to effect a change-over to power the whole of the cost was: met out of revenue. Ever since that time there 3iad been only one small supplementary loan. The general fund had stood something like £10,000 and it was only fair to repay that v amount and that was why the annual transfer was made. He hoped they would continue to be made while a profit on electricity was :sho\vn, for in spite of it he felt that the standing charges were reason;able and compared favourably with neighbouring districts. He felt too that the ratepayers were happy under the economic policy adopted and agreed with the Mayor that the --council had nothing to hide. Mr Barry added that the whole "position to-day with regard to the tightening up of power control was due to the effort to conserve. In hot water heaters alone it had been •estimated that there was 20 per cent wastage. By regulation the council was now forced to meter the heater rate. They had applied to the only Price Tribunal they knew of in Wellington and had been given authority to make a 20 per cent increase in the charge. The cost of metering would have been in the vicinity of £1000 (if the meters were procurable) but in order to avoid that expense the range meters had been utilised and thus combined the range and heating loads. The new basis of charge was scaled out over test periods June and December and averaged exactly the same cost to the consumer under the new as under the old. Though there would be discrepancies. On the aggregate the Borough was receiving less than before. Regarding the financial position of the Borough, His Worship said that, although one sub-account showed a debit of £200, the rest had substantial credits', and the finances as a whole were in an exceptionally sound and healthy state. He added that the writer of the letter had first approached the Town Clerk -and asked for a lot of. information. As he appeared to be getting deeper and deeper, Mr Saunders, had not felt inclined to hand on anything 'Officially without reference; to the council. That had now been done, but it was quite unnecessary to write to the Minister for there, was never any question of Withholding information which was sought in the correct manner. Any ratepayer was free to get all the information he required.