ELECTRICITY CHARGES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 224, 16 May 1932, Page 7

ELECTRICITY CHARGES

G. C.

NAUMANN.

(To the Editor) Sir, — Kindly allow me space for a few lines in refefence to an article which appeared in Friday's issue of the Morning Post under the heading "Little Belated." Regarding Councillor Coleman's sarcastic remarks as to the reason for which the Ratepayers' Association exists, let ms inform hixn that the association exists for protecting the interests of the ratepayers and so long as Cr Coleman and others persist in disregarding those interiests the association will be in duty bound to "find fault" however unpleasant it may be to do so. It seems that by wading through a lot of ancient minutes Cr. Colexnan discovered that the council passed a resolution early in 1930 asking the Tourist Department to revise the charges for electric energy and that another request was made in July 1931. Considering that both requests met with refusals and that another Minister has since been put in charge of the Department, it is difiicult to understand why Cr Coleman should think it strange that "after all these actions we have taken we should be asked by the Ratepayers' Association to take actioxx. As the Councillor had to look up the minutes for information regarding these unsuccessful actions his "generous conclusion that the association does not study the deliberations of the council" was quite out of place. In this connection it is pertinent to mention that for reasons best known to those responsible no complete reports of the present and last Council's meetings have heen published for anyone to study. Summing up the situation it would, seem that while the council's actions were "a little previous," the association's letter, whether a little belated or not, brought a reply which gives some hope of ultimate success, though much may depend on the council's treatment of the proposals which the Hon. Adarn Hamilton is prepared to submit to it. Since Cr. Coleman thouglxt fit to taunt the association that its request was a "little belated" he has laid himself open for repartee namely that the Couxxcil was "very much belated" in carrying out the advice given by the association as long ago as last July, namely the long overdue reduction of the staff salaries. — I am, etc.,

May 14, 1932. Hon. Secretary. Rotorua Ratepayers' Association. One section of this letter, as apparently referring to the "Morning Post," calls for comment. Repox'ts of Council xneetings in this paper have ' avei'aged over four columns a meeting and so far as this paper is concerxxed, there is no relevant subject of public interest which has not been reported. We are unable to publish the minutes of the council owing to the fact that there are other calls ' upon our space. — Ed. "Morning Post."