GAS NEGOTIATIONS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 520, 29 May 1909, Page 6

GAS NEGOTIATIONS

MELROSE MAINS QUESTION. , DEPUTATION TO THE' PREMIER. A FAVOURABLE REPLY. The Mayor of.Wellington (Dr. A. K. Newman), and most of the members of the City Council, waited on the Prime Minister (Sir Ward) yesterday afternoon on three subjects of importance. The first wes the question whetho'r the Wellington Gas Company should bo allowed to lay mains through that part,of the city which was formerly tho Borough of Melrose. At present tho company has not the richt to do so,'but a clause in tho measure, known as the "Wash-ing-up Bill" of 1907, gave it tho power'to do so, provided that the consent of _ tho Government, as expressed by Ordor-si-Council, is obtained. Tho company has, therefore, applied for an Order-in-Council, ' and tho City Council, which is st£U negotiating 'for tho acquisition of tho gasworks, decided to oppose the application by way of a deputation to the Prime Minister. The Mayor strongly urged that tho Government should not give the Gas Company a right which would , oporato, not for to-day only but for all time. The conned was united in tho matter. If the company's application wero granted, other public companies would be able to come to the Government and ask for all sorta of concession against the interests of local bodies. Tho council was negotiating with the company for tho purchase of tho works, and if they bought them, there would be no need for the concession to b9 granted to the company. If not, the' matter could then como up. The council only asked the Government to maintain tho present position, and not grant a concession at the expense of the citizens, which, thoy considered, tho company had no right to ask. The council had tho right to start gasworks, and lay mains, in a large portion of the city, and they wore justified in objecting to anybody elso coming in and pulling up tho stroots tor such a purpose. Councillor Luko-emphasised the points made by tho Mayor, and said the intention of the City Council was to come 'to 4 bona fide agreement with the company as to tho purchase of the works, and until they arrived at that position,,and asked the people to authorise a sufficient 'amount of money they wished to ask tho Government to withhold the Order-m-Couneil asked for by tho 'company. ■ ,' J . ;.CouncUlgr^M^Laren>aid;'the\Gaa/CktrflP i any. "received, certain/rights:; under the.;, original :Act.. It'.would bo .wrong for .the.council,'to ■ ask tho. Government to depriye'.thp! company, :of /any-'.of Cthose ■ rights'; '..but!_:rb";> woiifd ,v, be I eaually. unjust' tongiy.e the: company, any ii«sh. rights'.as. against: the citizens..; vThe.i.whplo council was witVthe Mayor in tfoe';matter.,'lt' wasVbli'6 policy,pf.all.progressive'•mnnicipiilk ties'to ■ undertake: for ■■themselves,such,-enterf. prises as the. supply.-.it- gas.'.'. It■ would : be particularlyjimproper, he submitted,: to give the l oompany. fresh, rights; -just when.negotia:',! tions ; with the city were pending.';;;.■;■,■..-■■.;. .'-.. > ; The.Prlme!Mlnlster ? B ,Reply.:';,;, v The Prime Minister," in';reply; : ■said; 'the, olauso':. providing for: authority ,to; .lay' gas mains in suck 'cases 'beihg given* only-by the .Govefnor-in-Couricil'was put into' the' Act' of 1907 at his/instance after' representations on the subject had : beon made" to" him by 'Mr. , His]op,;who was then Mayor of , Wellington, The object, oi'/the clause was ~ people:b ut' sidethe acta'al locality where' a gaa oompany operated:might '.haye gas supplied, to them.. He did' not-: know-why.'the Bill: did ■ not ceive.'the attentioixof those'immediately:' conceraßd before',the Mayor carae:'to,'hi'ni.;' The, Government had not , yet agreed to' Order-in-Council issued; Personally he . ■lieved in municipally-owned easwork's. ■' "' ■•""•■ ' The Mayorr We all.do. , /., ."•' ! The.Prime .Minister, said ho believed the acquisition of the. gasworks must' como about, but he did not think they should keep necessary, work .hanging v up ion the assump/. tion that the Government would not•'put" tho Act into operatipn , by.the issneof theOrder-in.-Council., The peoplor.of Miramar and other looalitiee were entitled to (a supply :6f gas, if.they washed for it. He understood-that the 'negotiations -between the City Council and the Gas.Company,were ; 'going.oh. ;\ -■'■ ■ ■ ; Tho Mayor.:■' Very 'actively..'.'.: .: ; , ■ ".. ~ The Prime Minister,' proceeding,. said' that if the council found thatvthey could juire lie gasworß,'he thought they should infornv . the _ Government, as [the Order-in-' Council, which had been applied for, was being held up primarily- te 'seei what-was 1 . b<v ing dono by;tho City Council.' The'whole of the, council s representations wore on' record, and would receive due consideration ■ ' ' :: • i,, o^? 1- meters 'brought..^before '.the' : ;: Primo the municipaldeputation- are reported elsewhere. "' ..".'■ ■■■.. ■ . •