LOST HIS DISCOUNT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10312, 22 January 1927, Page 5

LOST HIS DISCOUNT

MU. G. H. LYSNAR’S DILEMMA. REBATE GRANTED FOR TWO MUaTmS. Remission of cuScount -cu three, months' electric accounts icr his buildings in Feel street was sought by ail - . G- it. Lysnar in a letter to the Power jjomd yesterday.

' In his letter Mr jLysnar explained that in September be was ill m hospital on tiie last discount day. Realising that his account amounting to £2O gross would have to be paid immediately- if lie was to receive the benelit of the discount, totalling Jto, he went down next day to pay but the. discount was refused, and similarly because he was in arrears 'with' tho 'September account no discount had been allowed him for October on November. He, tHergiorej.. appealed to the Board to allow him a rebate on account of the discount, which he had lost in the three months, as lie had now settled all accounts in lull, or as an alternative he would have to ask the Board to collect the accounts lrorn his fifteen tenants.

Mr. F. R. Ball pointed out that lie received complaints every month from people who had lost their discount, and he was appealed to to obtain mission of the amount, but had informed the complainants that the Board could not do so. Mr. I. Mirfield considered that it would be creating an undesirable precedent to grant rebate on account of discount which had been lost by consumers paying after “due date.” “Otherwise,” he added facetitioiisly, “we will have a good many in hospital if we make a distinction in this case.”

Mr. A. C. Steele considered that Mr. Lysnar’s loss distinguished it from other cases, in that he was id in bed at the time.

The chairman emphasised that the accounts were delivered in ample time for Mr. Lysnar to pay, and thus receive his discount.

That the granting of a rebate would create an undesirable precedent- was also the view expressed by Mr. C. H. Williams, who proposed that Mr. Lysnar should be charged the full amount of the September account, but should be allowed the discount for the months of October and November. “It is a bad precedent,” he said, “to grant remission for all accounts and Mr Lysnar should pay.” The clerk explained that Mr. Lysnar paid the accounts in full qnly after a threatening letter that the building would be disconnected. Mr. A. C. Steele proposed an amendment to the effect that in view of the non-payment of the September account boing due to Mr. Lysnar s illness, that a rebate of discount should be allowed on all the accounts. The amendment lapsed, lacking a seconder.

The motion was then submitted to the meeting and carried.