THAT WATER RATE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 26, 28 May 1912, Page 7

THAT WATER RATE.

(To the Editor “Stratford Post.”) Sir,—A storm in a teacup lias been raised over the Mayor’s resolution, carried in the Council, to raise only sufficient by nay of a water rate to cover interest on the last water loan of £-1000. The interest on the previous loan for waterworks (£8000) has been collected, as it should he, by way ol a- special rate over the whole of the Borough. Some of those who have been barking at the heels of the Mayor, claim that those ratepayers who have not yet had the benefits of the water supply should not he asked tf pay water rates. If this line of argument is correct, then, why shonlc the users of water be asked to provide funds for general purposes? Tin water account at the end of the year was in credit to the extent of £982. and to this must he added the sum. oi £!2t transferred to the general account in 1906, and it is very questionable if I lie latter proceeding was legal., Adding the total credit at the end of, the year with the amount transferred, to the general account, we get £1406. which has been used for purposes alto gather outside waterworks. Now, a; to Councillor Sangstcr, the statemeni he made was on the assumption that Councillor King’s arguments and figures were correct. Councillor King : main argument was that the surplus shown in the water account was liiadi up of rates collected for extraordinary supply, and that if it were not lor the amount collected from the extraordinary supply the water account would show a deficit instead of a credit. The Mayor entirely exploded Councillor King’s argument, and it was after this that Councillor .Sangstcr decided to vote for the Mayor’s resolution, As to the Mayor’s action in giving his casting vote, surely any tyro in such matter's would know that in such cases the Mayor or Chairman is sunposed to give his casting vqtc in the direction of allowing tilings to remain as they are at the time. As matters stood' when Councillor King brought up his motion, only sufficient rates were to he levied to cover interest nti the last water loan, and when it came for the Mayor to give his easting vote, he did so in the recognised constitutional way. The Mayor need have no fear, he has the confidence of the Stratford people, and this confidence will not he’casily shaken ; certainly not on the water rate question.— 1 am, etc., . ANTI-HUMBUG. 27th May, 1912.