THE WATER RATE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 2919, 15 September 1908, Page 5

THE WATER RATE.

MERELY A MISTAKE. 1 THE MAYOR'S EXPLANATION. AMENDED NOTICES TO BE ISSUED. THE NEWSPAPERS TO BLAME? The question of dealing with the increased water rate was what brought Borough Councillors together at a special meeting last evening. The Mayor (Mr P. L. Hollings) presided, and the following Councillors were present:—Crs J. H. Pauling, J. Elliott, A. Haughey, W. Pragnell, J. C. Ewington, J. Prentice and J. Yarr. The Mayor said that the meeting had been called to considei the water rate demands for the year. It appeared that there had been a mistake mada which he thought could be. very easily rectified. The Council had intended the water rate to have been the same as last year, and the Town Clerk had been instructed to that effect, and the latter was under the impression that the rate being levied was the same as last year, and had assured the Council to that effect. However, the mistake was one which could be put right in a perfectly simple way. Had the speaker not gone away the day after the rate had been finally dealt with the error would have been righted without any of the stir that had been created over the matter. There was no necessity for pejple to go into hysterics, as all that was necessary to be done was that a resolution be passed by the Council to the effect that the amount of water rate to be collected be on the basis of that levied last year. In many boroughs it was the case that the amount of rate struck was more than was collected, the collector being simply instructed to collect the amount finally considered necessary. He thought the Town Cle:k should be given an opportunity to explain. ' The Town Clerk said, in explanation, that when he assured the Council that the "amount oi the water rati being struck was the same as last year he was quite sincere in his belief, but a mistake had been made. He regretted very much that such a mistake should have occurred, seeing that it had involve'! the Council in considerable trouble with its ratepayers. The Mayor said that what had actually been done was that the maximum amount of rate allowed by law had oeen levied. This was occasionally done in other places, but subsequently it was found unnecessary to collect the whole of the amount levied. No harm had been done in the present case, though the incident had anparently given the Press something to talk about and the public a chance to criticise the Council. He did not think that because the Council had made one mistake they should j be criticised in the way they had been. It was* however, the usual thing—they devoced a lot of iinn an i work to the pubflic, and when a mistake was made the present attitude of ratepayers was the result. The Mayor then moved as follows: —"That the collector of rates be instructed to collect the water rates for the ensuing year on th p same basis of charge as was adopted last year; that the excess (if any) in each case be not collected, and that the amended notice* be sent out to the ratepayers showing the reJuced amounts to be collected." Cr Elliott a*ked why was not the amount ot the rate inserted in the motion? It way a similarly wcrded motion that had caused the trouble from the starr. The Mayor said the motion as it stood would suffice. The amounts had .all been worked out and amended notices would be served. Cr Pauling seconded the motion. Cr Prentice asked if the amount to be collected could not be made less than last year. The Mayor replied that the Council had to collect enough to meet the annual loan charges. Cr Ewington asked what these ' were. Ths Town Clerk replied that the | .charges were £7BL Cr Pragnell said he would support ' the motion if it was found after due consideration that .a less amount coul.l ■not be done with than was collected last year. He maintained that the Councitl had expended too much in new works last year, and he would like to see a retrenchment made in the water expenditure. The Mayor pointed out that there was yet to be found the amount expended tfjor improvements at the headwork*, about £9OO. His Worship asked if there were "any more apologies" to be made. Cr Ewington: "There are no more apologies to make. Your Worship seems to have made thecn all —in fact, it se°rned almost like a brief." The Mayor: "A what?" Cr Ewington: "A brief, I said." Cr Ewingtan, continuing, said that the whole matter was being treated very lightly. On two occasions it had been asked at the Council table wnether the water rate was the same as last year, and each time the reply was in the affirmative. When persons had come to the Council office ti object they had been told that the rate had been struck by the Council, the executive officer saying "It was not my fault." The speaker ' failed to see how these remarks applied in the light of the proceedings that night. He repeated that the matter was being treated altogether too lightly. Regarding Cr PragnellV! suggestion that a reduction should be made in the amount to be expended ' in new work, the Mayor had wrongly contended that what the ratepayers would not authorise by loan the Council should expend out of revenue. It had been shown tiiat only i £7Bl was required to meet interest charges, etc, on the water loans, yet the rate to be collected was approximately £2,000, showing that the Council would still have a substantial balance out of which to pay the amount necessary to cover the improvements at the headworks. Seeing that there was a large increase in the general rate, and slight increases in others he was in accord with Cr Pragnell that serious consideration should be given to the question of reducing the water charges for the year. It had not been shown that night that the amount to be collected would be required, and he moved as an amendment that the matter stand over for consideration-till tthis eventing by which time Councillors

could have time to come to a decision in their own minds on the matter. The amendment was not seconded. Cr Haughey, speaking to the motion, said the ratepayers appeared to have lost their heads somewhat, and they had no occasion to, either. There was a certain amount of grim humour about the matter, and the incident had done some good, as it allowed ratepayers to see "behind the scenes" a little. It was amusing to hear certain people advocating cutting down rates, and yet in the past there had not been sufficient to go round. Attempts had been made year after year to keep down the overdraft, but it had continued to pile up. It was just as well to let ratepayers know that they would have to find the moijey or the works would stop. He contended it was a matter of impossibility to cut the rates down, as at the end of the year there wouid only be a shortage. It was all very well for Cr Ewington to get up now and thrash out the matter of reduction, and throw dust in the eyes of the ratepayers. He would like Cr Ewington better if he came out and told the ratepayers the plain facts. It was all very fine for the newspapers and the ratepayers to accuse the Council of not doing its duty. The speaker for one was doing what hs considered his best in the interests of ratepayers. The ratepayers would have to carry some of the burden, and if they had been apathetic in the past and allowed matters to drift and drift until they struck a stone wall of rates they could not blame the Council. Cr Elliott said it gave him a certain amount of pleasure to support the motion. He, too, did not think it possible to reduce the rates at the present juncture, though he would like to see that done. Good water was as essential as good drainage, and so far as he would see the Council could not do with a lesser amount than was to be ollected. Cr Pauling said he was glad to support the motion. It had been intended all along that the rate should be the same as last year. Now that a way had been shown out of the difficulty he did not think the ratepayers would blame the Council-when the position was disclosed. It was not the time now to suggest cutting down the rates. The Council could not get loans every year when a mile of mains had ti be put down, and he believed ratepayers would give the Council credit for trying to do its best, and v give them value for their money, The motion waß then put and carried without dissent. Cr Ewington drew attention to the fact that rates payable in half-, yearly instalments had been demanded in one sum, and he asked that in the amended notices this mistake should be remedied. Cr Elliott'also drew attention to the omission on the water rate statement of the basis of the rate. Tne Mayor stated that these matters would be remedied on the amende! notices. The discussion then ended, and the Council adjourned.