THE LIGHTING QUESTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 49, 22 February 1912, Page 6

THE LIGHTING QUESTION.

OR. PAGET AND THE MAYOR

(To the Editor “Evening Post.”)

Sir,—May I be permitted to state briefly in reply to Mr J. Masters’ letter appearing in your issue of last night, that Mr Masters, in criticising my figures, forgets that the fund referred to only represents what has during seven years been lost in payment of £4OOO for goodwill and iu depreciated value of the machinery, i.e r , ,to quote his figures that the borough has during seven years lost £9250, and if they have thus replaced it by £9250, less the cost of from £H4 to £424 per annum, it is out of .poqket by exactly that amount "that loss, per annum reaches either £IO2O or £3299 at tlie end of the period. To i-v'ti it in the form of an account, it reads as follows : Dv -' ■ ■ £ :4iWy cash paid for goodwill ... 4000 i, I3y depreciation of plant ... 5250 I,' '■ ■' ‘ ' ' £9250 Or liy goodwill extinction fund 4000 By depreciation plant 5250 '' ‘ “ " " '' r ;; ' ' £9250 And to, the Dr. account can now be added the actual loss of something between £IOOO and £4OOO. Mr Masters has justified his old plan of showing the credit aiid concealing the debit side of his account. Certainly, Mr Masters’ forte is wildcat finance, and I should advise him to enter it and stay there. 1 would also like to call the.;ratepayers’ attention to the fact that my warning as to the likely error in tjie estimated cost of £3600 for new plant, brought to light next day an error of £6OO, which Mr Masters says “the Town Clerk discovered yesterday afternoon.” Dear me! If I was in error in saying that Mr. Robert Masters is chairman <4 rilectors of the Electric Light Comp my 1 apologise to that gentleman and his father, the Mayor. Possibly I should have said ho is a director and was chairman. If I orred it was inadvertently, and it is, I think, immaterial to the point at issue. Thanking you in anticipation—l am, etc..

T. L. PAGET Stratford, February 22.