“A BIT HEATED”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 127, 19 August 1927, Page 13

“A BIT HEATED”

RATEPAYER’S COMPLAINT CONSIDERATION PROMISED A statutory meeting of the Mount Albert Borough Council was held on Tuesday evening to consider the complaint of a ratepayer, Mr. P. C. Jacobs, that the council had permitted certain drainage work for a neighbour’s benefit to be carried out upon his property without his being consulted in the matter. Mr. Jacobs said that in August, 1926, he gave the council permission to lay ths main sewer through his section to connect with the drainage system of Mr. Ashworth’s—also a neighbour, which resulted in an appreciable saving to the council. His complaint was not prompted by monetary loss, but was a matter of principle, he said. He contended that the council had permitted a trespass in allowing Mr. Goulburn’s contractor to excavate on his (complainant’s) property without permission. When he approached the Mayor some time ago for an explanation, Mr. Jacobs said that Mr. Rhodes had accused him of petty spite. Mr. Rhodes: I said you were unreasonable, Mr. Jacobs. Mr. Jacobs: You said it was spite. Complainant reminded the Mayor that he had said, "We are going to take the drain through if we have to go to the Supreme Court to do it.” Mr. Rhodes: I got a bit heated when you made your complaint. The Mayor went on to say that from the council’s point of view it had no feeling in the matter. It was simply loking after the interests of ratepayers and it was only fair that Mr. Goulburn should be allowed to connect up as he desired. The Mayor promised to give the complaint full consideration.