GASWORKS FOR LOWER HUTT

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 14, 11 October 1921, Page 3

GASWORKS FOR LOWER HUTT

MATTER AGAIN BEFORE BOROUGH COUNCIL. At last night’s meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council ti communication was received from the secretary of the Lower Hutt Ratepayers’ Protection Association, covering a. resolution .which was stated to have Ixien carried at the public meeting held under its auspices on September 30. The Mayor (Mr. 15. P. Risthworth) Ba.id that the letter was not in accordance with fact, because no resolution had been carried at that meeting. After some discussion about the form In which the matter appeared on the order paper, Councillor W: G. Meldrum moved that consideration of the letter be deferred until October 24. Councillor A. Af’Bain moved is an amendment that a reply be sent to the secretary of the association, informing him that the question of erecting gasworks in the borough had been gone into very fully by the council, which., had decided to proceed with the erection of tho works, and now saw no reason for pausing. The Mayor seconded the amendment. Councillor Hobbs asserted that the opposition of ■ tho ratepayers was fairly rolid, and it was the council’s duty to take somo notice of it. Councillor J. Brasell supported the amendment. The Mayor said that the whole matter was one reflecting upon the council and tho Mayor. Personalities had been introduced, attempts had been made to belittle (ho action of the council; men, not conversant with the position, were canvassing tho district with petitions, and to that ho took strong exception. Cases of misrepresentation hall come to his knowledge, and he considered that tho dignity of tho council was to a certain extent at. stake. The Mayor and borough solicitor of Petone, supportoil by several councillors, and a number of residents.” continued Air. Rishworth, "came to the borough and started a system of detraction, which is the most extraordinary thing 1 have ever heard of.” Councillor W. T. Cotton said he had been accused of “shuffling” on the gas question. He took strong exception <o that, liecauas it was not. true. Right through he had opposed the erection of gasworks at Lower Hutt, but ultimately he ball satisfied himself that: there was no possible chance of any arrangement being come to with Retene. He supported the amendment. j The Mayor said it had been stated that he had raised the money for the undertaking after a promise that no loan would be raised at the present high rate of interest. His answer to that was that tho council had raised the money at 7 per cent., free of brokerage. He also stated that it was impossible for the works to bo a charge on tho rates. '■' On a division the amendment was carried, tho voting being as follows: — i For: The Mayor, Councillors West, (Dempsey, M'Bain, Brasell, Cotton. 1 Against: Councillors Strand, Mitchell, Hobbs, and Meldrum. It was decided to receive the deputation from the association on October 24.