NO REDUCTION

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 436, 18 May 1937, Page 4

NO REDUCTION

ELECTRICITY CHARGES Borough Council’s Decision A recommendation brought down by the Electricity Committee at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council to reduce the charges was defeated, the Mayor, Mr J. W. McMillan, and Councillors A. H. Nelson, C. R. Finnerty, C. Speck, A. H. Trotter and T. Lawson voting against the motion of Councillor R. F. Harkness who was supported by the Deputy-Mayor, Cr. W. P. P. Gordon and Councillor W. E. Williams. In the course of discussion Cr. Gordon accused the Mayor of disregarding the wishes of the ratepayers and stated that if Mussolini tactics were pursued he would prefer to go off the council. “As long as we have electric light profits any aspirant for the Mayoralty will use fhis argument for reduction, and I think that the sooner the profits are abolished the better,” said Mr McMillan in proceeding with his. notice of motion that a new scale of charges be adopted as near as possible to cost price. When the motion lapsed for want of a seconder, Cr. Harkness moved the recommendation of the Electricity Committee that high rate lighting units, both domestic and commercial, be reduced to 6d nett and that high rate domestic heating units be reduced from 60 to 40. He said that ever since he had been on the council he had endeavoured to get a reduction in the charges. Cr. Gordon, in seconding the motion, said that although the council decided to submit the issue to a meeting of ratepayers he had been ruled out of order at the meeting, the Mayor stating that the purpose of the meeting was to approve of the council’s policy or otherwise, and he refused to accept an amendment putting forth definite suggestions for a reduction despite the fact that the meeting dissented from the Mayor’s ruling. “I am going to say that If these Mussolini tactics are pursued the sooner I get off the council the batter,” continued Cr. Gordon. “If the council has any doubt about the feeling of the ratepayers I am prepared to call another meeting and to pay for the cost of advertising.” The Mayor: But why beat the air? Cr Gordon: Because I am perfectly sure that, the ratepayers are in favour of the policy you enunciated when you opposed Mr Thomson. Challenge To Mayor Cr. Gordon then challenged the Mayor to submit the question to a referendum of ratepayers the loser to pay the cost. He said that the proposal for reduction before the meeting would involve approximately £l7OO. The profits last year were £3400 and he had not the slightest doubt but that in another two years they would be back to £3OOO. This year at any rate there would be £2OOO to help toward the reduction of rates. The Mayor said that there were certain works in the borough, particularly the bitumenising of the streets, and until those works were completed the council wanted all the money that it could get. The question of electricity profits, he considered. would be better left alone until next council election. Cr. Trotter, said he was quite satisfied that the best course to adopt would be to leave the matter until an election. He hoped it would be a while before any councillor had the temerity to bring forward the matter of the reduction of electricity charges.