The Evening Star THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2194, 19 May 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1870.

gas question has assumed a singular phase; it is now remitted for decision to the ratepayers by the City Council. This is not to be wondered at when the result of the debate on the report of the Gas Committee is considered. This report assumed as a settled principle that gas supply should be in the hands of the Corporation, and in view of that recommended the purchase of the works on fair and equitable terms, and if they could have been obtained on them the question would have been settled. The subject was treated so exhaustively by Mr Fish, as the spokesman of the Gas Committee in the Council, and placed before the public on the Avhole so fairly, that comment upon his statements is needless. The opposition to the proposition to purchase the present gas works was not very intelligently put forward. It was shown conclusively that they are equal to the supply of the City; that through parliamentary and legal expences, the cost of building, loss by competition, and in one way or another, the cost of new works would exceed by some thousands the purchase money money proposed for the existing works; and that when completed, should the Corporation succeed in ruining the present Gas Company, the hitherto unheard of work would have been achieved of a Corporation destroying the pro-

pei'ty of the very citizens Avhose interests it was created to protect, Exception was taken to the sum proposed to be given for the works in excess of the valuation. Wo are disposed to think that in the condemnation of this there is some thoughtlessness. The bare value of plant is a very inadecpiate remuneration for relinquishing a profitable business. No manufacturer would hand over his business connection to another without taking into consideration the value of that connection as well as the plant itself. Another manufacturer might set up business close beside him, and eventually ruin him, and reduce the value of his plant to comparatively nothing, but in order to this he would have to work for years at a sacrifice of time and money ; or, on the other hand, he might expend his capital in a vain attempt, The time and money spent in either case would be the measure of the value of the connection, and it would be b’etter and fairer in the first instance to pay that money, and to realise the immediate advantage, than to run a risk that might end in self-ruin. An Act of Parliament is necessary to enable the Corporation to command private as well as public lighting, and it is not likely that any Parliament would overlook the obvious duty of providing compensation to those whose property would he injured by the new arrangement. If referred to arbitration, we hardly think a less valuation than that proposed would be placed upon the plant and business. But even assuming that arbitrators awarded some thousand or two less, the expenses of obtaining the award, increased Jpvobably by parliamentary opposition, would swallow up more than the difference; and we had rather see the money go into the shareholders’ pockets than have it wasted in unprofitable opposition. The flippant objection by Mr Wilkinson, that he iiad so many friends willing to build gas works for so much less, amounts merely to jumping out of the frying-pan into the fire. It is raising up one private company to get rid of another, and only deserves notice because of its marking the incompetency of that gentleman for his office. The question of lighting the City by the Corporation is only a question of time. Ultimately it will be done. Whether it is better to do it now, or defer it to a fetqro time, is the question. On this point it must not be forgotten that if the works can be ! purchased on equitable terms, the City ; rates will not be increased, for gas works will be self-supporting, and, in fact, should he so remunerative as to recoup their cost in a few years, if properly conducted. There is a third proposition which is put forward now for the first time. In all the discussions that have hitherto taken place on the subject it has been assumed that the question to he settled was, whether or not new works should be constructed ? The possibility of a reduction ju the cost of lighting the City by a new j arrangement with the present lessee, has not hitherto been mooted. So far as the ratepayers are concerned, it cannot matter to them who lights the City ; so long as it is well done and at a moderate cost. The rates will be the same to them whether done by a private company or by the Corporation ; and we do not doubt that it can be as cheaply done by the one hh .the other. But this hardly meets the whow ease. The City lamps are only half the ques- j tion included. We do not know that it is strictly within the province of the Corporation to do more than bargain for the lighting of the City lamps, although we do not doubt that the lessee of the gas works will consider as included in the estimate he submits the Imvest rate at which he will supply private consumers. A reduction has been made from the highest juice charged. Whether any farther reduction is jjossible we are fcOjt prepared to sa} r . We apprehend tills .could be made on a guaranteed increase of &gn- 1 sumption. This is a matter of detail, j however, that can only be settled by calculation, and it will be more satisfactory that in any estimate this important feature should not be forgotten. Wo have felt it our duty to put before the ratejiayers the chief jxuuts to be considered in giving their votes on the ■ question. The labors of the Gas Committee appear to have been faithfully and laboriously performed. They have given time and careful consideration to the subject; they appear to have examined it on all sides ; and however the vote may go, they deserve the thanks of the City.