“WELL OVERDUE”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 October 1942, Page 4

“WELL OVERDUE”

STREET LIGHTING ACCOUNT

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL IN ARREARS.

WAIRARAPA POWER BOARD DISCUSSION. (“Times-Age” Special.) The Masterton Borough Council was nearly four months overdue with its quarterly street lighting account, the Secretary-Manager (Mr G. Brown) stated at a meeting of the Wairarapa Electric Power Board at Carterton tod£Mr Brown was instructed to write to the council regarding the account. He had reported to the meeting that two legal opinions he had obtained were in agreement that the contract price for street lighting was due, notwithstanding the fact that the lights had been shrouded. He said the Masterton Borough Council had not replied to an offer the board had made concerning street lighting charges All other boroughs in the board's district had paid their street lighting accounts. “It is quite wrong,” said the chairman, Mr A. C. Pearce. “The account was due in June. We want the money. Why shouldn’t they pay their account like anyone else?” In reply to a member, Mr Brown said the account was for approximately £3BO. He added that the account was well overdue. Mr W. A. Tate said the matter could be left in abeyance. “We can cut off the power, under the contract,” observed Mr Brown. Mr C. R. Holmes: “We can tack on ten per cent.” Further discussion of the matter was taken in committee.

The Town Clerk, Mr G. T. O’Hara Smith, stated this afternoon that application had been x made by the Masterton Borough Council to the Wairarapa Electric Power Board for some concession in the charges for street lighting, due to the reduced lighting regulations. The offer conveyed by the Power Board was not altogether accentable to the council and upon being advised of this the Power Board withdrew its offer. The council had deferred payment pending receipt of legal advice on the subjeci.