Water Rates and Charges

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 261, 31 December 1914, Page 3

Water Rates and Charges

[TO THE EDITOR. 1 Sir,—Kindly allow me space in your valuable paper to protest against the unfair charges that are proposed to be levied against the water consumers of Pukekohe. At the last meeting of the Borough Council Councillor Hamilton proposed and Councillor Hubbard seconded the adoption of the Waterworks Cominittee's recommendation to raise the price of water to cons lmers from on (plus 3s for m'ter use) to 15s per quarter, and to reduce the minimum allowance from 4,000 gallons to 3,000 gallons per quarter, also to charge 2i 6d for eich subsequent 1,000 gallons instead of Is 6d as at present. Now does it not appear to the Borough Councd, and more especially to Crs. Hamilton and Hubbard, that the amount already charged to the consumers is quite heavy enough seeing that we also pay a water rate, and in all probability will have a special rate to meet after February 3rd. If the ratepayers of Pukekohe are going to be burdened with. more heavy rates, then this town will be a good place to keep out of. There are some good men on the Council who have the interest of the ratepayers at heart, and I sincerely hope they will do their best to prevent any unfair charges being made'upon the water consumers of Pukekohe. The consumers are chiefly of the working class, and they find it hard enough to make ends meet now. If certain Councillors think that by raising the price per quarter to 15s will make the scheme self-pay-ing then I can assure them they are very much mistaken. The premises of a large number of ratepayers are not yet connected with the water mains, and if the Council wishes to encourage those people to join in with those already connected, then they should if anything lower the water rate. Once the charge is put up to 15s p3r quarter I (and I am not the only one) will politely a&k the Borough Council to take the meter out.—l am. etc., RATEPAYER. Pukekohe, Dec. 28th, 1914. —' » | TO THE EDITOR.I Sir—lt may interest you to know that this week I visited Pukekohe with the express object of purchasing a town property but on ascertaining the figures of current rates (already higher than most, if not all, of the Auckland suburbs) and hearing of the Borough Council's expressed intention of increasing the charges for water and burdening the ratepayer's with yet another water-loan I declared negotiations right " off." Surely the Council is legislating against the best interests of the town instead of encouraging its progress. Anyhow, the rates frightened me and I prefer to fight shy of Pukekohe. jl ours etc. A WOULD-BE RESIDENT Auckland, 29th December, 1914