PROFITS FROM WATER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 348, 8 May 1928, Page 16

PROFITS FROM WATER

NOT POOR BUSINESS ONEHUNGA BENEFITS The profit of £586 made last year by the Onehunga Borough Council on its water supply does not satisfy Councillor F. S. Morton. Mr. Morton said at last evening’s meeting of the council that, with an outlay of some £ 45,000, such a small profit was very poor business. He said that the balance sheet disclosed a serious position, and the whole question of the water supply required thorough investigation. Councillor Stoupe, chairman of the waterworks committee, said that it would be quite easy to make a big profit out of the water supply by simply increasing the wa.ter rate, but he preferred that instead of showing a huge profit the people should get the benefit of this great natural asset. It was explained by the town clerk that in order to make a bigger profit the water rate would have to be nicreased to ratepayers. The council was unable to increase the charges for water to other local bodies, because it was under contract to supply them at a fixed charge. The Mayor predicted a “howl and cry” if the water rates were increased. Councillor E. Morton: The Power Board is getting £2,000 a year for current. That is where the money is going,, The Mayor: We are saving threefarthings a 1,000 gallons by using electricity instead of the old gas engines for pumping. The estimates were then adopted, and the town clerk authorised to strike the rates for the current year.