ONSLOW COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2012, 20 March 1914, Page 11

ONSLOW COUNCIL.

CHECKING METEB READINGS. The 0-nslaw Borough Council met lost evening, the Mayor .(Mr. F. HoldsWprth) p-re-sidriig. Coteieillors 0. tynneberg, J. C. Gardner, h. A. Browne, V. Munro, C. Bewde-n, R. A. Nibol, A. H. Ho%, E. C. Alderson, and D. Monro were also present. Considerable discussion took fllafte over a motion moved by Ofiimeit'lor Bowdeii. The motion, was to the effeet' that a licensed phtmber _be appointed to earry ant certain dtitios- in centtcs-. tjoji with the Kaiwana water sys-tem, ■namely (i) reading of water meters; (2)■effefithig repairs to same; and (3) swing!, him power to serve notices pn own* oris, in tho ease of serious defects .to meters.,, po-inti-ng btit tte necessity of l'vavifij* repairs efeoted iumiediatcly.. Councillor Bowdeii said that lie had a petition signed by. ft large numbciOf rfttefi'a.yors who lvad water me-tei-s; asking that si'veh an appointment shoiild, he made, lie lia-d,-I)iowevci', nothing to complain of Regarding the work of the Itorougli eiigineer, who was the present meter reader. The Majrar. then, read the petition., Co-mieillor Lyniieberg stated that, during the last 12 'years, four licensed plumbers liad 'been'-engaged by the council to read tlie- meters, but- therewas still the sp.me old complaints. He poinded out- that Councillor. Bowden's name was on the petition, and yet he had stated that he had nothing against the engineer. Which statement of CoaneHlor Bowden's was correct? Was he dissatisfied with the engineer's work, or did he think tlie engineer capable ofroadittg tb'a meters'? Cowiellior Gardner expressed himself: as being quite satisfied with the pre-' sent rc'tdings. He moved an 'amendmeitt to tlie effect that the, motion held overs and that ratepayers be per* mitte-d to engage tho, services of a licensed plumber to l-hcek the readings of tho eiigineer. ' Comitilior Hohy seconded the amend-' moot. . CoUVK'illor Bowdeu then referred to the remark by CounciHar I/vniw-bM-a as ti his (tho speaker's) name being tached to th» petit ion. "It is," said Cmiucillor Bowde.ii, ''jiist another characteristic misrepresentation on the part of Couneiflor iiyßnobcrg, »s far as I am concerned. My name appeared upon- that petition as a ratepayer. It was sent to nie for my name and I'put it upon tk' petition willingly." t - The Mayor: Did\you road it first? CoKncillo-i' Bow-den: I did. Cwttinuiiig, the speaker said: "I contend that there is no crime in expressing an o»in* io-h that the present officer is not a ■'eunaMfl man." Tho Mayor: It was not sugs;osted as a- crime. CoHii'icillor Bswden: I put tny name on tlie petition as a ratepayer, boiny dissatisfied with tho present readings. J The Mayor then put the amendment which was carried.