GERMAN WATER METERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2981, 19 January 1917, Page 6

GERMAN WATER METERS

\ ■ ' •UNWELCOME .SHIPMENT FOB A ? BOROUGH COUNCIL. Before the declaration of war the Wagga Council gave the representatives of a, Sydney hardware firm an indent order for 24 Jin. water meters of German origin (says the "Sun"). These meters were shipped from Germany on July 4, 1914, a month before the outbreak of war, and were paid for by the Sydney company. After war was declared between Britain and Germany, the steamer carrying the meters was interned for ■ some considerable time. Quite recently, however, the vessel was released, and porrnitted to proceed on her voyage. ' The hardware company, m a letter -to tho Wagga Council, pointed out that the delay had been really unavoidable, while tho extraordinary circumstances had been beyond control. They therefore fully oxpected iflio council to tako tho meters, -which were indented in execution of the council's order, otherwise the firm would sustain an absolute loss, as tho meters had been paid for by them, as beforo mentioned. The letter added that the company never at any time previously kept theso German meters in stock, and had _ never imported them excepting for an indent order, such as the Wagga Council had lodped in pre-war days. When the letter camo before tho council opinion was divided as to what was tho proper course to take. A motion that the council rccoivo and pay for tho moters wa_s withdrawn in favour of ono referring tho matter to tho Finance Conimitteo for considora-. tion. >( .