THE LIGHTING OF PUKEKOHE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 123, 20 December 1915, Page 3

THE LIGHTING OF PUKEKOHE.

Private Enterprise Adopted At last meeting ot the Pukekohe Borough Council a letter wai received from Mr J W Blackman, ot, Uastertoo, repeating an offer he made a little time ago to instal a system of gaa lighting in Pukekohe. Mr Blackman, it will be remembered, was the engineer engaged by the late Council to report on the subject, and it is evidence af his confidence in the undertaking that he is prepared to proceed with the scheme as a private undertaking if a municipal installation ia not to come about. Cr Hoadley suggested that offers from electrical firms should be suught aa well as for gas. Cr Hubbard agreed vitb Cr Roadley, and proposed that applications should be invited for firms or companies to supply either gas or electricity, the Council then to decide as to the most advantageous terms offering and rights of future purchase to form part of the contract.

Cr Rcadley leconded. Cr Barter was ol the opinion that (be first st?p for the Council to take was to decide whether a lighting scheme should be a municipal or private enterprise. Cr Koadley stated that although all the Councillors probably believed in governing bodies owning lighting works, jet the position was that there was little prospect ot getting a loan through and private entetprise would thus bring about the lighting :f the borough at a much earlier date than if it wa> to be a municipal affair. Cr Patterson advocated the installation of electricity, an! favoured such being a municipal undertaking. _ . Cr Hubbard expresed his desire to let his resolution stand over until the other aspects of the matter had been dealt with. Cr Patterson then proposed that the Council should aftirnuthe principle of installing a municipal Sibeme of electric lighting. Cr Road lev seconded "pro forma" in order to allow of the matter being discussed. The Mayor thought it would be raab for them m uoikilled laymen to dteid* on electricity without first obtaining exptrt rivkt.

Cr barter moved an amendment that the Council should affirm the pi inciple of lighting the town by rrivate enterprise cither by gas cr electricity. Cr Motion seconded.

Cr Bilkty opposed stating that it meant giving aivay the town's birthright.

The Mayor considered that the proposed lighting loan was previously re j cted by the ratepayers as it was associated with another hsn that was regarded unfavourably. Be favoured lighting being again placed before the ratepayers when the loans on foot were of. If it would pay a company to carry out the lighting it would also pay the municipality, and although poxers of purchass could be provided it meant that a purchase would naturallly be at a fancy fiiUre. It was a fallacious idea to think that something fur nothing could be obtained from any company.

Cr Motion pointed out that the Auckland Gas Company was a private concern and gave every latisfaction.

Cr Hubbard remarked that Pukekohe was at present the worst lighted town in New Zeaand, and if a company waa successful the people would be glad. Cr Roadley considered that it would be far better to pay more for a profitable concern than to lose monsy at the start, and he urged that a company carried on its business on a more economical basis than a municipality could.

Cr Patterson contended that experience at other places had been that the municipality had to pay excessive p'ices when the private undertakings were purchased, and, moreover, the plant was naturally old and had to be replaced.

Cr Barter's amendment was carried, the Mayor, Crs Bilkey and Patterson dissenting, and it having been adopted as a substantive retolution it was resolved to invite applications trom private firms or companies to light the town by gas or by electricity. Cr Patterson suggested that a lighting area should be defined, but the Mayor pointed out that suchwas for the the applicants to suggest.