WHO SHOULD PAY?

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 103, 28 October 1933, Page 5

WHO SHOULD PAY?

SEVEN STREET LIGHTS

UPPER. HUTT DISCUSSION

A little time ago the Upper Ilult' Borough Council discovered that it had been paying for seven street lights in the Hut.t County Council's area. The Hutt Valley Electric Power Board was of the opinion, when the matter.camo before it, that the borough should mako an adjustment with the County Council, but Upper Hutt did not agree with. this, and has deducted the amount concerned (£140) from the Power Board's bill to. the council. At last evening's meeting of the Upper Hutt Borough Council a letter was received from tho engineer and general manager: of tho Hutt Valley Electric Power Board (Mr. E. F. Hollands) stating that the board urged the Borough Council to pay the account now due to secure the concession allowed for prompt payment, without prejudice, and suggested holding a meeting of representatives of tha Borough Council, the Hutt County Council, and the Power Board to discuss tho matter. • The Mayor (Mr. .A.. J. McCurdy) said he had that evening received a letter front the" Auditor-General stating that the Borough Council could recover from tho Hutt Valley Electric Power Board tho amount overpaid. Councillor W. Greig, the borough's representative on the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board, asked if it was a fair thing for the Mayor to write to1 the Audit Department without referring tho matter to the council. ■Councillor G. S. Bates agreed with Councillor Greig that the matter should have come before.the council before being referred to the Audit Department. Mr. MeCurdy said ho was in conversation with an Audit Department ofli-1 ccf, 'who suggested that he (the Mayor) should put the matter before the Department in writing, and, besides this, the whole question had to be cleared up so that it could como up before the council that evening. . Shortly.. afterwards, Mr. .McGurdr asked Mr. Greig if ho was moving a motion'of censure, and the. latter replied that lie would not nced.much'compulsion. Councillor Greig stated a little'later that it, was possible to have a difference1 of opinion without falling- out, and it should be possible to have free discussion on questions on which differences of■ opinion could be held. '■'"■ After various motions were,suggested, it was decided to inform the Power Board of- the Auditor-GeneraPs opinion that the amount in question was recov erable from the Power Board.