Ratepayers' Association Taken To Task

Chronicle (Levin), 5 October 1949, Page 4

Ratepayers' Association Taken To Task

"The Levin Ratepgy.ers' Association is a bqdy which could fill a use"f-ul place in 'the community if it did not spend its time in illmformed and' . ihischievous criticisins," said the Mayor,. Mr. H. B. Burdekin, when taking the association to task at Monday " night's meeting of the Levin Borough pouncif over a 'press report of one of its meetings at which strong comment had been forthcoming regarding many aspects of the iborough's administration. Quoting from ' the * report, the Mayor referred "to a paragrapfi. in which the proposed rise in the price of gas was condemned by the association, which stated that it would be better for the 'council to improve thg- supply. "I ask them whether they would want a* borough' enterprise to be carried on at loss and its finance? jepRardised,"* said Mr." Burdekin. '"Ihe ppudent course is to halance the bud'get. Increased costs must in turn bring about a pricp increa?e. If 'is sutely our dutV "to see that the works are not run at a loss." Regarding the supply, he would remind th^ association that Levin's gas works "was the only one in the Dominion which had not had to ration gas to consumers at any time and that was surely ' something worth while, said Mr. Burdekin. "We are doing all we can^to increase the volume and the base has beep. laid for a 50., 000 cubic fept hqlder for a re^eryc Qf gas," said Gr. 'A. W. barton." "The association is equally ill- ^ . informed about other aspects of ~ its qpmment," sa,\d Nfr. Burdpkin. "In regard tb footpath's, they must surely have very short memories or they would recall that three years ago the council submitted a lqah prbpqsai scliem^, which' " iva's turned down by" the ratepayers" They knew " then, as they,1 'know riow, that foptpaths'can't be Rrqvided out of revepue. and qnl'y a small amoirnt yeariy can be *alj located for improvements." • The j association would be well advised, iVfr. Burdekiq adde$, tq- get better ihformed about- the position before maMng statements which would only mislead the ratepayers.