SEWERAGE CONNECTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3279, 26 July 1911, Page 2

SEWERAGE CONNECTIONS.

DISCUSSED BY BOROUCH COUNCIL A RESOLUTION RESCINDED. The question as to whether the $ '*■ erage connections to m t.ie Borough should be done by the l.oroagn Council or by private plumbing hr ms, was before the. Borough Council last evening. ... The Mayor had previously given notice to move that a resolution passed, on Mav 30th regarding house sewerage connections should be rescinded, and the following substituted: That the necessary steps be taken to allow property owners to select the plumbing firm they desired to undertake then sewer connections, and, upon notification, the Council would make the contract with such plumbing firm to do the work, the Council’s liability not to exceed £l2. If the cost exceeded that amount the balance to be found by the property owner. 'The Mayor said it would be a very prudent step if the Council would pass this resolution. It was not wise to have business undertakings such as this connected with the Council’s work. He pointed out- that in other centies Councils did not do such work, and he did not see why this Council should enter into competition with private firms. Every applicant would, under his resolution, inform the Council the firm they desired to do tlie work, and then the Council would make the necessary arrangements. He did not know why they should depart from the practice adopted by other Councils in the Dominion. Such work would entail a good deal of responsibility, and lie thought that if the Council stuck legitimately to Council work, such as road construction, they would then get their staffs on a proper footing. He did not think it was right that the Council should say to the ratepayers that if they wanted to avail themselves of tlie loan they had to let the. Council do the work. The Council did not want to add a plumbing shop to its other Undertakings. If the work was done by the Council and it was not properly carried out they would be continually harassed. If the Council decided they would do the plumbing, then they were putting a responsibility on themselves which was not desirable. He explained that he hoped to give , more attention to the work of the Administration Committee in the future, as there were a number of matters that lie wanted to see altered. Cr. Brown seconded the motion. Cr. Pettie said he did not see any necessity for rescinding the resolution. He pointed out that the Council did not intend to compete with the plumbing trade. There was a certain amount of work which the Council should

undertake in the interests of the ratepayers. It was desirable that the Council should do the work in connection with their own buildings if it could be shown that it could be done cheaper than by firms. He pointed out that the private plumbing firms said that the Council could not do the work at the same price as they could, but in the same breath thoy asked the Council nor to enter into competition. He wanted tho Council to protect their own properties and do their own work in connection with tneir institutions. It might be necessary in some circumstances for the Council to put in connections for people who could not pay for them. ft

Ci\ Darton also opposed the motion. There was not one clause, he said, in the resolution that the Mayor proposed to rescind, that should be rescinded. When the loan was placed before the ratepayers a strong point was made by everyone, advocating that the loan should be carried, that there was a ' sum of £IO,OOO to be included in the loan for the purpose of assisting ratepayers to get sewerage connections. They told the ratepayers they would do the work. He pointed out that the Act stated that the monies payable by the owner should include not only the actual cost of the work, materials, etc., but also a sum of 5 per cent, to cover supervision. The Council, therefore, could not lose money by it. By the motion the Mayor wanted to rescind, they could allow a ratepayer to get a firm to do the work* or the Council would do it. Cr. Webb said a rumor was. go:ng round that the Council was in tho hands of the master plumbers. A party had applied at the Borough. office that day to have house connections made, and had been told that the Council was not making any connections now. The Council had no right to set up a plumber’s shop, and he would vote for the rescinding of the resolution. Cr. Harris also supported the motion.

Cr. Wade said he was in the happy position of having to speak on a subject he knew something about. There was a limit of £l2 for the installation of the connections, but the Council was not in a position to know wlmt the work would cost. The cost of installation might run into £2O. The Council was not in a position to know the value of special work. To undertake the work "the Council would, have not only a man who could estimate the work, but a good business man to superintend such a large contract. The Council should have nothing whatever to do with the work. Through the sewerage work coming on three new plumbers iiad already come to the town, and the competition existing would ensure reasonable prices being charged by the private firms. Plumbing was one of the most tricky trades that could be entered upon, and the . Council should keep out of it. The city councils did not dream of undertaking plumbing work, and why should the little borough of Gisborne attempt to do so. Let the Council devote its energies to improving the streets and other much-needed works, and leave plumbing alone. Cr. Sawyer said he was in favor ot the plumbers doing the work, but considered that the householders should have the right to have the pipes laid by the Council’s workmen if they so desired. Ci’. Smith said that nine men out of every ten would want to know the cost before the work was commenced. The ratepayers would be better protected and would get better value for their money if the work was let by contract. He was in accordance with the resolution . The Mayor, in replying, said that the ratepayers were perfectly free to have the work done either by a private firm or by the Council. The Council was being run by the Engineer, and not the Engineer by the Council. Cr. Collins: I must ask you to withdraw that statement ; it is a direct reflection on every Councillor at this table. The Mayor retorted that time would show that what he was saying was correct. Proceeding, His Worship said that the sooner the Council decided to take no responsibility in the matter of the house connections the better. The £l2 was simply intended to cover the cost of simple house connections, and was not intended for the homes of the well-to-do. It was unwise, unpractical, and imprudent for the Council to attempt the work. The work of the Borough in making the house connections ended at the boundary of the sections, and the responsibility of maintaining the connection to the houses rested with the property owners. The Council would have quite enough on its shoulders in maintaining the sewers. The motion to rescind the resolution was then put and carried, the Mayor, and Crs. Harris, Smith, Webb, Wade, and Brown voting for, and Crs Pettie, Collins, Darton, and Sawyer against.