OBJECTIONS TO METERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 785, 4 October 1929, Page 11

OBJECTIONS TO METERS

INDIGNANT DEVONPORT PROPERTY HOLDERS COUNCIL CRITICISED ‘I have two water-meters under my house, which were installed bv the Borough Council, but they will never be read unless a policeman is brought.” This assertion was made by one speaker at a meeting of the Devonport Property Holders’ Association, at which members discussed grievances against the council for its insistence that water supplied should be paid for through meters. The meeting was presided over by Mr. D. W. McLean. After a draft constitution had been considered the chairman blamed members for neglect to consider their grievances long ago by more carefullv selecting members elected to the council.

The council was censured bv the chairman and Mr. F. A. Thompson for its refusal to allow the association the use of the municipal chambers for meetings, especially when this concession was granted to other bodies. Members decided to send a deputation to the council to ask the reason lor the non-granting of the use of the room.

As a former councillor, Mr. Thompson went on to give "some inside facts” of the working of councils. He was interrupted, however, bv a member of The audience, who wanted to know the i elevancy of this subject to water meters, but the speaker was encouraged to proceed by loud “Hear, hears.” He declared that the water commissioner had found there was ample water in Lake Pupuke to supply all Auckland City, besides the marine boroughs. "The council will not put a meter on my property,” lie added. 'They can put it on the footpath if they like.” If the council prosecuted him lie assured members he had “something up his sleeve.”

The use of water meters was condemned by a woman member, who supported her contentions by referring to tho late Mi-. Carlaw’s attitude toward a water metering policy for the city.

While opposing the meter service charge of 7s Gd annually, Mr. S. Lyon claimed there was a fair amount of logic in the council’s attitude. Devonport had to pay the pumping costs for all water used, he added.

Indignantly producing a notice from the council to clear gorse off the road, another speaker asserted that if he was compelled to do the work, he would force the council to clear its own gorse.

The amalgamation of the four boroughs was suggested, but the chairman advised the association to defer consideration on the ground that the financial position of these municipalities required looking into. A vote of no-confidence in the council was another proposal advanced; but on this suggestion, too. the chairman advised members to wait until the association was stronger. Hfc concluded by criticising the council for increasing the property valuations, after haying promised that the rates would not be increased. An appeal was made by the chairman for more members of the association.