A GAS AGREEMENT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 169, 13 April 1921, Page 11

A GAS AGREEMENT

DISCUSSION AT HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL. At Monday night’s meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council, the report of the special committee on the gas agreement was considered. The Mayor (Mr. E. P. Rishworth) said they had attempted to get a settlement of the question, but Petone had not been frank in the matter, and were out to get "some of their own back." The Mayor of Petone had asked him to wipe out the past and go into the matter fully. The position should be clearly placed before the electors, with a view to letting them judge for themselves. Councillor W. T. Cotton moved that the council still attempt to negotiate with Petone for a sufficient supply of gas throughout the Hutt Valley. Councillor A. J. Hobbs seconded the motion, pro forma. Councillor A. Macaskill said that two or three council lore apparently were will ing to noil their flags to Petone. They had voted for expenditure on a report, and now they wished to place it aside. He considered that the tattle and bluff at Petone should not have been taken notice of. They should have gone to tn« ratepayers and settled the matter. It would be unfair to place the responsibility on a new council. Councillors were inclined to shelve the question. Councillor Cotton rose to a point of order. The Mayor said he could not sustain it, as the term was not unparliamentary. Councillor West asked how the negotiations were stopperl. The Mayor stated that they had received an offer from Petone of 6s. Bd.— that was more than they could pay. At a meeting among themselves they had considered 6s. 3d. a fair thing. They should take the people into their confidence.

Councillor Cotton said he was not nursing the cause of Petone. Eventually the two following motions were carried:—"That a special meeting of the council be held on Thursday night for the purpose of further considering the report”; "that the Petone Council be replied to stating that the whole position should be placed before the ratepayers of Lower Hutt for their consideration."