"GOSPEL OF OLD-TIMERS"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 173, 9 August 1937, Page 9

"GOSPEL OF OLD-TIMERS"

County Chainnan on Price-Cutting WAIPUKURAU, Last Night. If local authorities are not exompt from the proposed regulations to flx petrol prices they will not get any discount unless they use more than 460. gallons a month, stated Mr R. B. Price, clerk of the Waipukurau County Council, at the meeting on Saturday when he read a remit, to be dealt with at the New Zealand Counties' Association conference. this month, asking that local authorities should be exempt. The clerk went on to explain that last year the .council's petrol consnmption had exceeded 4,800 gallons . and, if that happened again under the new regulations, present-day discounts would apply. Otherwise, the. council would have to pay retail rates, leas, of course, the Government rebate of 6d for petrol used in road work. The present prices was 2/1, less one penny rebate and a' further penny discount for prompt payment. Last year 'a high petrol consumption was due to extra work, and probably- would not recur, so that it looked as though the new regulations woula ea use the county to lose the discount. , The chairman, Mr A. C. Russell, remarked that . the Central H.B. Power' Board would also be affected.- He comniented that the regulation would strangle small local bodies. Cr. M. Tansey said he could ' see no reason why local bodies should be included in tbe regulations. It appeared to him the only object.of the fixation of prices was to prevent pricecutting. Tbe chairman: What mado this country 1 The survival of the fittest. That was the gospel of the old-timers. Cr. Tansey expressed the opinion that cutting haj been disastrous to any country. It did a lot of harm and no good to anybody. "The cutting here is not very mueh. Anyway, they all seem to live,'" rejoined the chairman. It was decided that the council's delegate be instructed to support the rcmit claiming exemption.