LEVIN'S WATER UNDERTAKING

Chronicle (Levin), 18 December 1946, Page 4

LEVIN'S WATER UNDERTAKING

CHANGE TO TRADING CONCERN ADYOCATED . The method under which the town's water supply undertaking is financed is to be reviewed, with the object of establishing it as a trad-i fng concern on similar lines to the gasworks, if this is found to be practicable. A decision to this effeet was reached at a meeting of the Levin Borough Council on Monday night. The matter arose when a letter was read from the Horowhenua County Council, asking whether the council would be prepared to supply high pressure water to the Muhunoa West water supply area-, and on what conditions. Cr. F. E. Parker opened the discussion by criticising past council policy under which many properties outside the borough received water for household requirements and a number of stock troughs on the same terms as a borough ratepayer was given water for household purposes only. Moreover, the borough user was called on to pay for renewals and improvements through rates, whereas the consumer beyond the borough contributed nothing. The council should not continue this error, he contended, but should establish the waterworks undertaking as a trading concern. ' Consumption should be metred and the undertaking. made to pay for itself without assistance from the council's general account. Cr. A. O. Powell said the council had come up against this problem time and time again. The suggestion was ideal, but the question was how the council could taring about the change. It had made agreements with a number of consumers at a stated charge, and the difficulty was to overcome them. The Mayor (Mr. H. B. Burdekin) considered that the works committee should review the whole question and report to the council on the practicability of it, and submit any suggestions. This the council agreed to. In regard to the application before the council, the Mayor • said he knew the hardship which existed in the particular area, and the need for the supply. The engineer (Mr. K. W. Sandford) advised that the farms coneerned were already reticulated with a pump supply, and it was now desired to connect with the council's main to give a better supply. Cr. Parker commented that the property owners involved had their remedy in the installation of a larger pump. If the supply was granted. the charges should be subject to review in twelve months. The supply was granted under fche usual conditions, the charge t3 be subject to review at any time after March 31, 1948.