SOME QUESTIONS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 771, 29 September 1922, Page 4

SOME QUESTIONS.

(To the Editor).

'Sir, —A great deal has appeared in the Times lately regarding the electric light plant of this town. Some writers profess it is the plant that is deficient —some that more expert supervision of the existing plant would rectify matters. But is it not all waste of words —for nothing is done. Day after day—week after week, the same uncertain, flickering current wobbles about, sometimes on, sometimes off. Is it not about time that something was really done?, Ratepayers are tired, business is being ruined, and, ye gods! the public looks helplessly on —the council looks placidly on—and the power house staff do not seem to be able to do anything. What a pitiable stale we have drifted into; everyone wringing their hands, and no one strong enough to actually do something. The newly-formed Ratepayers’ Association seems only mildly concerned. The Chamber of Commerce has done a bit. It has at least secured a prpmise from the Mayor to address, a meeting of ratepayers; but will that, meeting possess nerve enough to insist upon very definite and concise answers to the questions which will be asked. Will it ask for instance: “lluw many men at the power-house possess certificates; and does the chief engineer possess any?” Another: “During the past six months have the certificated engineers been taken off the generating and lighting plant and put on to manual work, and their places filled by manual workers?” Will the meeting ask for a straight out explanation of the recent mysterious advertisement? Will the same meeting insist on a definite promise beinggiven- as to just when the borough can reasonably have continuous current? Will it ask if a guarantee has been received by the council from the engineer as to the efficiency of the new producer-generator he is building to his design at the power house? Will the meeting ask how much pump l ing has been done from the expensive Hickey’s dam pumping plant, and if the expenditure was warranted? Will the meeting ask why a roadway is being formed down to Manukau road giving access to a property in which two councillors arc interested? Will it insist on an answer to questions such as above, or will it calmly agree with everything it is told and pass votes of unbounded confidence in everyone concerned? It will be interesting to watch the result. —I am, «tc., I. FERGUSON.