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Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1929, Page 4

Tub report presented to tlie Borough Council at its last, meeting regarding the electric lighting agreement with the Kanicri Electric Ltd. serves the opportunity of expressing the general appreciation at the very friendly relations which have existed between the I{orough and the Company since the franchise was granted the latter. The Company for its part has given very faithful service, and the Borough may 1. 2 considered fortunate that the Cornpan}' came forward as it did and proffered the valuable service it is giving in the supply of electric lighting The service must be a great convenience to the townspeople generally, and so far as the ratepayers are ccn cer.ncd, this very useful amenity of civic life was supplied without any call on the people to finance the proposition. 80 far as the people who became the consumers were concerned, the scheme materialised and was availaide as a useful loeal service. That the Company is doing a fair thing by the people is shown hv the offer to review the scale of charges and bring them into line ,if need ho. with towns of a similar size elsewhere. The Council had the option to acquire the local reticulation service hut has decided not to do so. This we .think was wise despite the demand , made so often to municipalise concerns of this nature. When private enterprise is prepared to do the work it. is well to leave it at that, and in the long run the public will get the host service. Certainly in this instance there is no occasion 'to quarrel with the management nor with its general policy of being as helpful as possible to the community. On special oi-casions where extra illumination has been required, the Company lias readily helped, and has expressed a desire to so help in the future as opportunity offers. Those very friendly relations and intercourse with the Company are typical of the conditions under which matters have progressed since the inception of the Company here. ]t was the good fortune of the district to attract an allied Company to operate the auriferous deposits of R.iinn Flat, and from that important enterprise the Kanieri Electric Company developed. In both respects the community is to be congratulated on the advantages derived from these two considerable enterprises. and pleasure and gratification may lie expressed that throughout the relationship between the town and the Company has been so amicable. The result in no small measure is to he attributed to the character and hearing of the gentlemen who have represented the Company over the past years, and their actions have certainly been to the credit of the reputation of the Company from every point of view.