ELECTRICITY PROFITS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 412, 20 April 1937, Page 6

ELECTRICITY PROFITS.

| YEAR SHOWS £3400. I j Reduction in Charges Urged by Deputy-Mayor. Following discussion on a mo;ion by the Deputy-Mayor. Or. W. P. P. Gordon, for a reduction in f lee tri city charges, the Stratford Borough Council decided last night, to can a mexuing of ratepayers to consider the question. In bringing the proposal before meeting. Ur. Gordon said that the profit, from the sale of electricity last year was over £3,400, and he considered that thos.e ho had assisted io produce such profit should get some benefit. He thought that, tires council should help the small nVan He also stressed the fact that the Prime Minister was not in favour of local bod lis making profits out of trading concerns, and said there was a danger that ihe distribution of electric power would be taken out of the hands of .the council. Cr. Gordon quoted figures to show jthat a- reduction of on?, penny a unit I would cos t approximately £970, and iv-’ould still leave a profit of £2,400. (The man who deserved to be helped was the average small householder. If it were necessary to increase tfie rates in order to make up for the lost revenue, the small householder would still benefit. The average holding in Siratfoid wa<s about £lOO unimproved value, and an increasein rates of Id would cost the householder 8s 4d in the year. On tlte other hand, in lighting and heating ihe would save £1 10s. • Cr. R, F. Harkness, .chairman of ' the Electricity Committed', sa£d he i had not gone into the figures pre- ; pared by the Town Clerk, but ho had ’always sponsored a reduction in the i lighting charges. Policy of Council. The Mayor, Air J. W. McMillan, said he was opposed to tinkering with Ihn electricity charges. He pointed out that Broadway property owners, ’by reason of lower rents, were sufli’ering severely, and they could not. be expected to pay increased rates. It was. very dangoi-ous to alter the policy of the council before consulting the ratepayers. He was quite agreeable to calling a meeting of ratepayers. All the Government offices, which paid no ra.te s at all, Would benefit, said Cr. T. Lawson in objecting to the motion. Cr. C. R. Finnerty said it appeared that the council would have to increase the rates and .cut 'down profits. Cr. Gordon’s moti6n to reduce the charges was lost on being put to the meeting. Cr. Harkness, in referring to the sug-gesiion to call a ratepayers’ meeting, said that they would not attend. There would not be 20 present. The Mayor: When thuy know that it affects their pockets they will be there.