ELECTRIC LIGHTING DISCOUNTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1918, 28 November 1913, Page 4

ELECTRIC LIGHTING DISCOUNTS

Til 10 PIUXCTI'LK. A question of the principle of electric lighting discounts was discussed at Ihe City Council last night. It appeared that oji the back of the i:eccunts sent out by the .Municuial Electrie, Ltd., Department is a statement tiiat anyone burning over a stated quantity of light will receive a certain discount. Kccently the Harbour Board and .Messrs. J. Godbcr and Co. wrote asking that these reductions should ha allowed them. The Lighting Committee reported to last night's meeting as follows:— '"that consideration of the application of the Wellington Technical Education Board for a reduction in their liehting charge, and of the requests of the Wellington Harbour Board, and Messrs. James Godbcr and Co.,' Ltd., for special'discounts on their lighting accounts, bo postponed till the next fimiiicial year." Councillor J. Godber brought the matter up in the council, but as his own firm was concerned he did not go very fully into the matter. He said, howover, that the fact that his electricitv was consumed in three different buildings did not constitute a reason why ho should not be given the discount. " Councillor T, C. A. Hislop moved that the clause reported should bo referred back to the committee. He said that it seemed to him that tho Department was breaking its contract in not giving the discount which it advertised. Ho long as the money came out of the one pocket the allowance siiould be made.

Councillor J. E. Fitzgerald seconded the motion, and said that the real facts had not been placed before the- committee. Several'other councillors wished the clause referred back. ,_ Councillor R. A. Wri K ht said that n the principle was good so far as business premises were concerned it should be applied to private houses, and some people owned numerous houses. The .Mayor, who objected to the clause being ielerred back, characterised the proposal to grant the discounts a« unbusinesslike. He said that no change, should bo made before tho end of tho financial year. The clause- was voted back to tho committee. • Dining tlio discussion tho Mayor remarked that a regrettable thing was that tho. work of committees of the council was not carefully attended to. J lie attendances were had, and members arrived late. Mr. 1?..- Fletcher, a member of the eoiimiittoe, strongly objected to the iWnyors reflection on the committee. He (Councillor Fletcher) had been on' the committee seven years, and had missed only three meetings. It had' been impossible for him to attend the fast meeting of tho committee.