LIGHTS OF STRATFORD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 55, 29 October 1912, Page 2

LIGHTS OF STRATFORD.

THE STRATFORD LIGHT. “That the resolution of last Monday adopting the Lighting report, re new street lights, he rescinded.” Cr. Healy, speaking to the above motion at a special meeting of the Council last evening, said councillors had very little time to consider the matter when it was brought down for the last meeting. While he was agreeable to lighting the streets if the Council could afford it, he was of the opinion that they ought to reduce the cost of the existing lights before any new ones were put on. Their estimate for the present year was £IOO, for new work or a total of £339 up to the present time with the increased amount of the upkeep the cost would be raised £25 or £3O, and in face of that they were going to instal 25 additional lights. The upkeep of the lights during the three months immediately after the new arrangement with the Company was £lO per month, or thirty pounds for three months, now it was £l2 per month to maintain the present street lights. On that showing they were paying about 6s a month for current and 3s for maintenance for each lamp. That was altogether too costly. If it was reduced to a reasonable amount, half the number could be put on without additional cost. The Committee should devise ways and means so that the upkeep should not cost the Council anything like it had been doing. It was not until the Council had an arrangement with the Company that this additional cost was incurred. Before, the cost was £l6 10s for three months, and after, it was £3O, just about double. It was a matter for the Lighting Committee to see where this great cost in the upkeep was going. These 25 additional lamps would cost the Council £SO to put on the streets and with the cost of current for, say, three months £7O or £436 for this financial year, which was just about £IOO more than the estimates provided for. Next year the cost would be well on to £SOO. Cr. Ward: I told you that years ago.

Cr. Healy, continuing, said no doubt more lights were required in the streets, (hear, hear) —but at the same time they must keep down the cost of maintenance, and until that was done he would oppose putting in any more street lights. Councillors would find that street lighting would cost in the vicinity of £SOO a year, and his protest was that £l2 maintenance per month was altogether unreasonable. That was his reason for opposing the additional lights. 'Cr. Dingle seconded the motion. His opinion was that there was a big mistake. He did not say that the mistake was made intentionally, but he had very little doubt that the ' 105 lights were going to cost too much as they had the lights burning the whole night. He had moved in the matter some months ago to have the contract varied with the Electric Light Com : pany. Instead of having the 105 lights burning all night, the Council could have the extra 50 lights put in and have the current' turned off at one o’clock, which was quite sufficient, and would cost less money. As Cr. Healy pointed out the Council were paying £367 10s, but with an arrangement with the Company they could have the lamps lit for £2 10s, and the extra 50 at the same money, which was better for the Company and better for the ratepayers. He moved that a committee be set up to go into the matter, but it fell through for some reason he could not understand. Then the Lighting Committee brought down the report and asked the Council to vote on it without having a chance to consider it. They could afford to have more lights by varying the contract and having them lighted only until one o’clock. Cr. Dingle said he thought the Company would be prepared to meet the Council in that direction. Cr. Ward: That has not been the case, Cr. Dingle. Cr. Dingle: Although they had been waited on, the Syndicate have Cr. Ward: They considered the matter, and refused to vary the contract. Cr. Dingle; Nothing was put before them. .

The Mayor: Oh, yes; by letter. Cr. Healy: But those conditions were only made verbally. The Mayor: Oh, no; you are entirely mistaken. We have the letter here. The reason why the committee did not meet the Syndicate was because they declined to make any variation in the contract.

Cr. Dingle : In that case the Council was not prepared to put in any more lights, and I take it the Syndicate would now meet us. It would pay them better at £2 10 if we put in 50 extra lights. The letters to the Syndicate were read. The Clerk stated that a reply was received asking what was wanted, and the Council’s answer was that a variation of the contract was suggested in the direction of the street lights being extinguished at midnight. The suggestion was not entertained.

Cr. Healy said the Council should find out if the change was reasonable. A Councillor: And if it isn’t they will charge us by meter.

Cr. Morison referred to the fact that some portions of the borough were being made to suffer while others had the benefit of the lights—(Cr. Ward: Hear, hear) —They should rather vote that the extra lights be put on, and then vote that the whole lot be put out as a protest against the lighting company. The Council were paying far too much.

Cr. Ward said it was only fair to point out that the Council had got a bad lot of lamps. There was no question that they were an absolute failure. (Hear, hear.) New lamps were coming forward, and they would be a big improvement on the present

lot. Cr. Healy says there is £IOO more than the estimates, but lie has probably forgotten the fact that last year the Council struck a rate of which £95 was unexpended, and consequently, Cr. Ward took it, that amount should be put against the estimates for this year. The money had been expended in another direction. f The new lights were ordered but would not be in going order for possibly three to live months. Councillors had practically got the credit of putting them up, having been promised to petitions that came before the Council, and it would be very very unfair not to give those people the lights. Cr. King said whenever he spoke about the lighting, certain councillors hinted that he had an axe to grind. He pointed out before that as the town increased they would have to pay more, Cr. Healy could not expect that the cost in the future would bo the same as in the past. The Council had made a very great mistake in not taking over the Company at a fair figure. They would have had a splendid revenue. He was very pleased to see that they had found it out. Cr. McAllister said he was not satisfied in his own mind with the matter of the, current supplied, and he had gone thoroughly into it. He had correspondence to prove that the Council were paying a reasonable price for their light at the present time. The evidence was based on facts, and he would be pleased to show it to the Council. Councillors were trying to make capital out of the statement that the Company had exploited the ratepayers, but he had satisfactory evidence, not from amateurs but from men at the head of electrical concerns in the Dominion.

The Mayor agreed that the Council had got a bad type of lamp. An expert had taken a record of the voltage, on the 19th inst., and between 12 noon and six o’clock the current varied from 90 to 130; from six to ten it was never lower than 108, while after ten o’clock it went as high as 120. But the Council had only 105 voltage lamps and how, ho asked, could they stand it? He was not going to say that was the average reading, however, but it was the case on that day. They were going to watch the meter carefully, and if it was the general reading, then the current was being y supplied improperly. Cr. King; Are we certain that that voltage is right? The Mayor; We had it tested at Patea. Cr. King: I should not take it unless it was tested in Wellington. It is not possible for a machine of 105 voltage to turn out 130. The Mayor: Is that all that it is? Cr. King: That is all. A resolution was carried that the meter be sent to Wellington to be tested. . i ; Cr. Healji briefly replied* on the lines of his opening remarks, and stating that he had no objection to more lights being'.‘put on, but the cost of the upkeep should be within reasonable limits. Cr. Lawsorp asked what would be the position with regard to the lights that had been promised. They had been hold over already for twelve months. .|r'- U A Councillor interjected in reply to the answer r “That means- never.” The resolution on being put to the meeting was defeated, only the moved and seconder voting for it. Cr. Ward then moved that the Syndicate be informed that the Council intend to put up the additional lights. —Seconded by Cr. Lawson. Cr. Dingle moved an amendment that 80 extra lamps be installed, to be lighted up to one o’clock, if the Company agrees to vary the contract from £3 10s to £2 10s per lamp. They should endeavour as far as possible to provide ' light for people in the back streets and dark places in the Borough. Twenty-five lights as stated in the report were not really enough. For £4OO they could get a lot of flights going until one o’clock, if anyone was later than that, he would have to get home tire best way possible. The back streets would then be fairly well lighted. It would mean it would be better for the Company and better for the ratepayers. Cr. Ward, with the consent of his eeconder, offered to withdraw his motion in favour of Cr. Dingle’s, and Cr. King pointed out that it was out of order, as already 25 lights was in the resolution, and it could not be rescinded without notice of motion.

A good deal of discussion followed, Cr. Dingle not wishing to block the matter in any way, and at the same time not caring to give notice of motion.

Cr. Ward moved that a deputation be set up to wait upon the Company with a view to increasing the number of lamps and securing a variation of the contract.—Seconded by Cr. King. Eventually, Cr. Dingle moved that a committee be set up to wait upon the Company with a view to having the number of lamps increased from 80 to 100, and lighted up till one o’clock at £2 10s per lamp—Seconded by Cr. Ward.

Cr. McAllister referred to the delay that had already occurred through notices of motion and in other ways. “We are blocked every time,” he said; “It is only another way of putting it off.” Cr. Dingle: Excuse me; that is not my opinion. I object to a statement like that. lam quite prepared to accept the offer if anything can he arranged. The Mayor said ho had the power to refuse a notice of motion if he was of the opinion the matter was being blocked. Councillors agreeing that there was no necessity for delay, it was decided to put the motion to the meeting, and it was carried non dis.