THE GAS PROPOSALS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3756, 28 February 1907, Page 2

THE GAS PROPOSALS.

If councillors listen to everything the man on the street has to say on municipal matters, and trims his sails accordingly, he is almost sure to write “ failure ” at the end of his term of office. The man in the street knows everything ! If a proposal is made to light the Borough with gas, he sneers “ electric light is what is required ” ; if electricity is suggested he for gas and so on ad libitum. The Council brought down a loan proposal for lighting the borough with gas but it was rejected by the ratepayers, — the majority of ratepayers, however, didn’t take sufficient interest in the town to record their votes. The Council were determined to settle the lighting question, and after due consideration decided to give the right to light the town to a private company. They accepted the best offer, the conditions of which were set out in a previous issue, and every one who has taken an interest in the lighting question must commend the Council for its action. The Council is now relieved of this question and can concentrate its mind on the vital subject of water and drainage. We may state that before the agreement is ratified it will undergo a most careful scrutiny by the borough’s legal advisers, in order to safeguard the ratepayers. If any disagreement arises between the Council and Mr Butcher, the former can fall back upon the offer of another company which is prepared to make concessions equally as advantageous as those conditionally accepted. We believe, however, that Mr Butcher will meet the Council more than half way. It is interesting, in passing, to note the enormous difference in prices between firms —two from a neighbouring town —who offered to light the borough, and recent proposals. If the Council had accepted the neighbouring town’s benevolent offer — backed up by the request for the Council’s guarantee of a 6 per cent dividend, people foolish enough to instal gas would have paid through the nose and the Council would have shouldered the burden. Thank goodness we are not so slow as to be exploited as some people imagine. The Butcher proposals, taken on the whole, are apparently very fair, and should bring the illuminant within reach of nearly every householder.